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John F. Curry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John F. Curry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Major General John Francis Curry (April 22, 1886

March 4, 1973) was the first national commander of the
Civil Air Patrol, the United States Air Force Auxiliary. He
was also a major general in the United States Army Air
Corps.

John F. Curry

Contents
1 Biography
2 Decorations
3 See also
4 Sources

Biography
Curry had learned to fly in time to accompany General John
J. Pershing's expedition to Mexico. Later, during World
War I, he served as Chief of Staff of the Air Service of the
Second Army in France, under Col. Frank P. Lahm. He
destroyed a German observation balloon, but was shot
down himself by anti-aircraft fire. He escaped capture.
In late 1941, there was significant interest by civilian pilots to
assist the U.S. military. However, in Washington, D.C.,
those in authority scoffed at the idea that a group of nonmilitary aviators could provide any such assistance. Despite
these misgivings, the Civil Air Patrol was formed as a part of
the United States' home defense needs. Curry, an Army Air
Corps officer, was selected as its first national commander.
As such, he was the nation's only acting general in command
of a civilian army. He served in this capacity from December
1941 to March 1942.
Founded as a volunteer organization, the Civil Air Patrol
conducted patrols over coastal waters in search of enemy
submarines and naval activity. As it was not a governmentsponsored plan to provide free flight training, each individual
had to pay for their own flying time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Curry

Birth name

John Francis Curry

Born

April 22, 1886

New York City, New York

Died

March 4, 1973 (aged 86)

Colorado

Place of burial

Fort Logan National Cemetery

Allegiance

United States of America

Service/branch

United States Army Air

Forces

Years of
service
Rank

19041945
Major General

Service
number

0-2353

Commands
held

Ellington Field Bombing School,

Commandant, Air Corps Tactical
School, Maxwell Field, Al,
Commanding Officer of Hamilton
Field, Ca, Commanding General,
Northwest Air District and
Second Air Force, Spokane,
Wash
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John F. Curry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of the reason for the founding of the Civil Air Patrol
was to keep aviation from being put aside entirely during the
war. As Gen. Curry stated, "Without such a plan [as Civil
Air Patrol], there might be no private aviation for the
duration of the war; with such a plan, there is a chance that
private flying may continue and develop." Under Curry's
guidance, wings were formed in every state. He helped
mobilize 100,000 private pilots for non-combatant service;
thus freeing military pilots for wartime duty.

Battles/wars

Pancho Villa Expedition

World War I
World War II

Awards

Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit
Legion of Honor
Ordre de l'toile Noire

Other work

National Commander, Civil Air

There was no discrimination because of one's gender.

Patrol
Individual ability, experience and past records were the main
criteria for selection. In Curry's words, "There must be no
doubt in the minds of out gallant women fliers that they are needed and, in my opinion, indispensable to the full
success of the Civil Air Patrol organization. A great part of the progress made in organizing civilian aviation under
Civil Air Patrol has been due to the volunteer help given by women flyers." Although he only served a few months
as national commander, Gen. Curry's organizational skills were influential in determining the future growth of the
Civil Air Patrol.
Originally, the Civil Air Patrol was given the opportunity to prove itself for a 90-day test period. Success in
deterring German U-boat attacks on merchant vessels encouraged the USAAF and USN to support the Civil Air
Patrol's coastal patrol mission, among others. After the end of World War II, the Civil Air Patrol continued to serve
the nation in performance of dangerous missions. The Colorado Wing, Civil Air Patrol, and Colorado State
Director of Aeronautics, headed now by retired Maj. Gen. John F. Curry, conducted light plane surveys through
the rugged Colorado Rocky Mountains. Where more than 50 peaks have an elevation of greater than 14,000 feet
(4,300 m), scores of flying individuals lost their lives due to unpredictable winds. As a result of Curry's direction,
maps of safe flying routes were developed by Colorado Civil Air Patrol personnel.
The first Civil Air Patrol cadet achievement, the General J. F. Curry Achievement, is named in his honor.

Decorations

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John F. Curry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

USAF Command Pilot wings

1st
Row

Army Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit

2nd
Row

Mexican Service Medal

World War I
Victory Medal

American Defense
Service Medal

American Campaign
Medal

3rd
Row

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Medal with one service star

World War II
Victory Medal

Chevalier of the Legion

of Honor (France)

Officer of the Ordre de

l'toile Noire (France)

See also
Sources
Leadership: 2000 and Beyond I (Second ed.). Civil Air Patrol. June 2004.
John F. Curry (http://www.generals.dk/general/Curry/John_Francis/USA.html) at Generals.dk
USAF Biographies (http://archive.is/20120718220714/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?
bioID=10216)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_F._Curry&oldid=641160328"
Categories: 1886 births 1973 deaths Air Corps Tactical School alumni
American military personnel of World War I American military personnel of World War II
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States) Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Chevaliers of the Lgion d'honneur Recipients of the Order of the Black Star
Members of the Early Birds of Aviation National Commanders of the Civil Air Patrol
United States Army generals United States Army Air Forces generals
United States Army Air Service pilots of World War I
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