Walter R. Weaver was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 23, 1885, the son of Major General E. M. Weaver, United States Army. Following graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant of Infantry on February 14, 1908.
SERVICE
He was assigned to the 11th Infantry and first served at Fort D.A. Russell (now Francis E. Warren), Wyoming. In July 1910 he transferred to the 28th Infantry for duty at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and in May 1912, to the 24th Infantry for duty in the Philippines. In October 1914 he accompanied the 15th Infantry to Tientsin, China, and returned to the United States in June 1915, for recruiting duty at Columbus Barracks, Ohio. He then served with the 22d Infantry at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, until March 1917.
His next assignment was as Commandant of Flying Cadets at Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. In February 1918 he assumed command of the Air Service Mechanics School, St. Paul, Minnesota, until January 1919, when he entered the Office of the Director of the Air Service in Washington, D.C.
In September 1920 he enrolled in the Air Service Primary Flying School, March Field, California, and was graduated in January 1921. He then entered the Advanced Flying School, graduating in March 1922. He took bombardment training at Kelly Field, Texas, and in April 1921 entered the Office of the Chief of the Air Service, Washington, D.C., where he served until December 1921.
He next was assigned as Commandant at Mitchel Field, New York, where he served until July 1923. After a short tour as Commanding Officer at Boston Airport, Massachusetts, he took a course at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, completing his studies in June 1924. He became Commandant at Bolling Field, D.C., for a month, then of Middletown Air Intermediate Depot, Middletown, Pennsylvania, until April 1927. He took a special observation course at the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, and was graduated in August 1927. His next duty was as Commanding Officer of Maxwell Field, Alabama, where he served until June 1931.
He then entered the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps, Washington, D.C., and became Chief of the Plans Division. In August 1932 he enrolled in the Army Industrial College, D.C., and upon graduation in June 1933, again was assigned to duty in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps, as Chief of the Information Division. In September 1934 he became the Air Corps Procurement Planning Representative in New York, and in April 1935, was made the Inspector, General Headquarters Air Force, Langley Field, Virginia. In February 1936 he was designated Post Executive, at Langley Field, Virginia, and four months later was made Commanding Officer, 1st Air Base Group, at that station. In July 1937 he was named Commanding Officer of Langley Field.
In April 1939 he was transferred to Maxwell Field, Alabama, as Commanding Officer of the Air Corps Tactical School, and in December 1940, he was assigned as Commanding Officer of the Southeast Air Corps Training Center, Montgomery, Alabama. He was named Acting Chief of the Air Corps, Washington, D.C., in December 1941. He was ordered to command the Air Forces Technical Training Command, at Southern Pines, North Carolina, in March 1942.
He was retired on December 31, 1943. On October 27, 1944 he died at Walter Reed General Hospital, Washington, D.C., following an illness of several months.
He was rated a Pilot, Combat Observer, Aircraft Observer, and Technical Observer.
In 1944, the Liberty Ship Thomas LeValley (2295) was converted into an “Ivory Soap” aircraft repair ship and renamed the Major General Walter R. Weaver. The ship was outfitted as a mobile aircraft repair and maintenance depot and carried two Sikorsky R-4B “Hoverfly” helicopters for observation, spotting downed aircraft and rescue and ferry work. The ship served as home for the 3rd Aircraft Repair Unit (Floating).
PROMOTIONS
Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, June 15, 1903; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, February 14, 1908; First Lieutenant, December 4, 1915; Captain, May 15, 1917; Major, Signal Corps (temporary), November 5, 1917; Major (temporary), February 8, 1918, to March 15, 1920; Major, July 1, 1920; transferred to the Air Service, August 9, 1920; Lieutenant Colonel, August 1, 1932; Colonel (temporary), February 15, 1936; Colonel, May 7, 1937; Brigadier General, A.U.S., October 1, 1940; Major General, A.U.S., July 11, 1941; retired, disability in line of duty, with rank of Major General, December 31, 1943.
DECORATIONS
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1943, with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility as Commanding General, Technical Training Command, from March 7, 1942 to July 7, 1943. In this capacity, General Weaver contributed to an unusual degree in establishing and administering the Reception, Induction, and Replacement Training Centers, as well as the mechanical, technical and administrative training schools through which passed and were trained the bulk of the Air Forces personnel. His administration of the Officer and Officer Candidate Training Program was responsible for the creation of sufficient officer personnel to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding Army Air Forces. General Weaver demonstrated marked aggressiveness, exceptional organizing ability and a superior quality of leadership in establishing and administering the varied activities of his important assignment.”
In addition, he received the following awards:
World War I Victory Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal