Scott Air Force Base in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Maj Gen Cyrus R. "C. R." Smith
(1899 - 1990)
— Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame Inductee - 1992 —
Photographed By Thomas Smith, October 5, 2021
1. Maj Gen Cyrus R. "C. R." Smith Marker
Inscription.
Maj Gen Cyrus R. "C. R." Smith. In April 1942, he resigned as President and Director of American Airlines to enter the Army with a commission as Colonel in the Air Corps ferrying Command, which two months later became Air Transport Command (ATC). As ATC's Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander, He applied his commercial air transport experience to the wartime, worldwide expansion of Military Airlift Operations. He was principally responsible for convincing the war department to make ATC the agent for strategic airlift. As a result, by the end of 1943 the Command was operating over air routes in the United States and Overseas totaling more than 130,000 miles.
In April 1942, he resigned as President and Director of American Airlines to enter the Army with a commission as Colonel in the Air Corps ferrying Command, which two months later became Air Transport Command (ATC). As ATC's Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander, He applied his commercial air transport experience to the wartime, worldwide expansion of Military Airlift Operations. He was principally responsible for convincing the war department to make ATC the agent for strategic airlift. As a result, by the end of 1943 the Command was operating over air routes in the United States and Overseas totaling more than 130,000 miles.
Erected 1992 by Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 38° 32.413′ N, 89° 51.822′ W. Marker is in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is on Main Street just east of Symington Drive, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Heritage Dr, Scott Air Force Base IL 62225, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 18, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
