MAJOR GENERAL ARNO H. LUEHMAN
Retired
September 01,1966
Died December 05,1989
PRINT | E-MAIL
Major General Arno H. Luehman has had a varied military career ranging from combat missions in the Southwest Pacific during World War II to planning for the Strategic Air Command's duty with the United Nations military staff committee, and directing the Office of Information at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force.
Born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1911, he attended public schools there and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy where he was a cadet captain on the Regimental Staff in 1934. The next year he earned his wings at Kelly Field, Texas, and from then until World War II held a variety of flying and other assignments.
During the war he served as assistant chief of staff for operations at Headquarters Third Air Force, and in the same capacity at Headquarters 13th Air Force in the Southwest Pacific, where he flew combat missions in B-24 and B-25 aircraft and ultimately became chief of staff, 13th Air Force.
One of his first assignments after World War II was to project Crossroads, an atomic bombing test in the South Pacific. Soon afterward he went to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, as assistant chief of staff for plans.
General Luehman next attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and in June 1948 began a series of unique assignments concerning military affairs in international relations. In succession he was secretary of the U.S. Representatives to the United Nations Military Staff Committee in New York, military adviser to the U.S. Delegation at the Third General Assembly at Paris, France, and chief of staff to the U.S. Air Force Representative to the U.N. Military Staff Committee in New York.
On the basis of his military record and service with the U.N., he was selected in January 1949 for attendance at the National War College, the top service school in the United States.
Graduating from the National War College in July 1951, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, as deputy director of information, serving in this capacity until May 1954. He was then made commander of the 3500th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, at a time when recruiting was a critical Air Force problem. During the next three years he planned and guided an aggressive program which produced record numbers of new Air Force members.
Recalled to Air Force Headquarters as director of information on May 1, 1957, he served in this capacity during General Thomas D. White's two terms as chief of staff of the Air Force. Upon General White's retirement, he continued in that post under the present chief of staff, General Curtis E. Lemay, and present secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert. His duty as director of information thus extended from May 1, 1957, to June 1, 1962.
Upon completion of duties at Headquarters U.S. Air Force he was assigned to Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force Izmir, Turkey as commander for a two year tour ending July 31, 1964.
On Aug. 17, 1964 General Luehman came back to Air University in the capacity of vice commander, Air University, with further duty as commandant, Air War College.
General Luehman is a command pilot. In addition to the schools mentioned previously, he is a graduate of the Naval War College at Newport, R.I.
(Current as of September 1964)