Roy C. Kirtland
Encyclopedia
Roy Carrington Kirtland (14 May 1874 - 2 May 1941) was a United States Army
soldier, officer and aviator best known as the namesake of Kirtland Air Force Base
in Albuquerque
, New Mexico
. He was among the first American military aviators and recommended Henry "Hap" Arnold
for aviation training
to Thaddeus Sanford Kirtland and Ann Virginia Carter. He married Helen K. Parker.
in the infantry
. In 1911 he was transferred to the United States Army Air Service
and placed in command of the U.S. Aviation School
at College Park
, Maryland
from April to June 1911, and served in a number of capacities with the Signal Corps
in 1913 until his return to the infantry division in 1915. He rejoined Signal Corps in 1915 and was in charge of the motor pool. He commanded the Third Regiment in 1917. While overseas, he served as the Inspector for aviation in England
and air service rest camps.
After the war, Kirtland became a flight instructor, commanded aviation supply depots and graduated from the United States Army War College. During the 1920s he served with the General Staff
until his appointment in 1930 as commandant
of the Langley Station and as acting commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School
. He retired in 1938 after 40 years service.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier, officer and aviator best known as the namesake of Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland...
in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He was among the first American military aviators and recommended Henry "Hap" Arnold
Henry H. Arnold
Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold was an American general officer holding the grades of General of the Army and later General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps , Commanding General of the U.S...
for aviation training
Birth
He was born on 14 May 14, 1874 in Fort Benton, MontanaFort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
to Thaddeus Sanford Kirtland and Ann Virginia Carter. He married Helen K. Parker.
Early Service
Kirtland joined the Army in 1898 and was commissioned on August 1, 1901 as a second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
. In 1911 he was transferred to the United States Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
and placed in command of the U.S. Aviation School
College Park Airport
College Park Airport is a public airport located in the City of College Park, in Prince Georges County, Maryland, USA. It is the world's oldest continuously operated airport.-History:...
at College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
from April to June 1911, and served in a number of capacities with the Signal Corps
World War I
Kirtland then commanded the First Aero Squadron1st Reconnaissance Squadron
The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is a United States Air Force reconnaissance training unit based at Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, California. It is the oldest squadron in the Air Force, and the first organization to be established as a U.S. military flying unit...
in 1913 until his return to the infantry division in 1915. He rejoined Signal Corps in 1915 and was in charge of the motor pool. He commanded the Third Regiment in 1917. While overseas, he served as the Inspector for aviation in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and air service rest camps.
After the war, Kirtland became a flight instructor, commanded aviation supply depots and graduated from the United States Army War College. During the 1920s he served with the General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
until his appointment in 1930 as commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Langley Station and as acting commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School
Air Corps Tactical School
The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. Created in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, it...
. He retired in 1938 after 40 years service.