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Westside T. Larson

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Westside Torkel Larson
General Westside T. Larson, US Army Air Corps, 1942
Nickname(s)Swede
Born(1892-04-18)April 18, 1892
Vernalis, California
DiedMarch 7, 1977(1977-03-07) (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Air Force
Years of service1917–1946
Rank Major general
Commands13th Bombardment Group
Third Air Force Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
Third Air Force Third Air Force
Battles / warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal

Westside Torkel Larson (April 18, 1892 – March 7, 1977)[1] was an American Air Force Major general, who was commandant of the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command during World War II.[2][3] In 1933 he won the Mackay Trophy for his pioneering work with "blind flying" whereby pilots could take off and land an aircraft completely with instruments (without any visual cues outside the plane).

Biography

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He was born on April 18, 1892, in Vernalis, California. Larson enlisted in the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps Reserve on Oct. 19, 1917 and underwent his flying training at Park Field, Tennessee. He was commissioned a Second lieutenant on May 18, 1918, and subsequently transferred to the Ellington Field in Texas.

In November, 1921, Larson was transferred to 60th Service Squadron at Kelly Field.

He was a member of the Early Birds, a group of pioneering aviators, and an active member of the Sierra Club.

He died on March 7, 1977, at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles, California.

References

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  1. ^ Snyder, Thomas; Shaw, Shelia (January 28, 1992). "Profiles In Leadership 1942-1992". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 56–61. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Thomas D. Parrish and Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall (1978). Larson, Westside T. (1898-1977). ISBN 9780671242770. US Army Air Forces officer who commanded the Antisubmarine Command in 1942-43. Promoted to major general in 1943, he was given command of the Third Air Force. In August 1945 he became commanding general ...
  3. ^ "Maj. Gen. Westside T. Larson, 83. His Air Command Fought U-Boats". United Press International. March 10, 1977. Retrieved 2011-06-01. Maj. Gen. Westside T. Larson died Monday in Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. He was 83 years old. In World War II, he headed the Atlantic coast antisubmarine air command.
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