Chief of Staff - CENTO
White - Informal
Bomber Pilot

General Walter E. Arnold was born May, 27, 1913 in El Paso, Texas.

After he received his pilot wings, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps (1938). Following the attack at Pearl Harbor, he served on the 39th Bomb Group, and then assumed command of the 330th Bomb Group.

A few months later became commander of the Arnold Provisional Group in Kansas; he delivered B-17s and their crews to Africa and England (1942). He led the 485th to Italy and fought with it until his B-24 was shot down in flames over Blechammer, Germany (1944).

This was his 19th combat mission, over half of which he led. He was seriously wounded by flak, was held in a small German hospital, declared missing in action for more than six months. He was prisoner of war until liberated (1945).

After his return to the U.S. he served in various positions in Kansas, California and Alaska (1945- 1946) until he was sent overseas to Okinawa.

He served as assistant chief of staff for operations of the 1st Air Division, group commander of the 22nd Bomb Group and commander of the 316th Bomb Wing. He returned to the U.S. in 1949 and went to the Armed Forces Staff College and graduated in 1950.

He then served as chief of staff for SAC's 15th Air Force with headquarters at March Air Force Base (1953); commander of the 817th Air Division at Pease Air Force Base (1956); director of flight safety for the U.S. Air Force's Office of the Deputy Inspector General for Safety (1959-1961); chief of staff for tactical Air Command with Headquarters at Langely AFB then promoted to General (1961-1962).

He stayed in that position until his retirement January 1, 1968. His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit (3 oak leaf clusters), Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal and Croix de Guerre with Palm.

He died February 22, 2002.