BRIGADIER GENERAL ASA NORTH DUNCAN
Brigadier General Asa North Duncan
Birth: Born on 30 March 1892, at Leighton, Alabama.
Death: Lost at sea on 17 November 1942, while on a flight from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar.
Commissions:
Corporal, Company K, 2d Infantry, Alabama National Guard, 24 June 1916 – 5 September 1916, at the time of the Mexican Border Crisis.
1st Lieutenant, 1st Cavalry, Alabama National Guard, 27 September 1916.
1st Lieutenant, Regular Army, Air Service, 1 July 1920.
Promotions:
Captain – 1 July 1920
Major – 1 November 1931
Lt Colonel (temporary) – 12 March 1935
Lt Colonel – 1 January 1940
Colonel (temporary) – 12 August 1940
Brigadier General (AUS) – 26 February 1942
Major Campaigns:
Mexican Border Patrol
Saw service in World War I
On duty in the European Theater of Operations, 9 July 1942 – 17 November 1942.
[Other campaign credits not available]
Awards/medals:
Distinguished Service Medal – 1943 (Posthumously)
Citation – “For exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in the organization of an Air Supply Command; the organization, training and movement of the Eighth Air Force; the planning of the Air components of two important task forces and the movement of the Twelfth Air Force. The successful engagement of the enemy by the Eighth and Twelfth Air Forces was made possible to a great degree by his foresight and efforts. His calm judgement, courage, resourcefulness and superior leadership have been an inspiration to the armed forces and of great value to his country.”
Legion of Merit – 1943 (Posthumously)
Citation – “For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Chief of the Personnel Division, Office, Chief of the Air Corps, from September 8, 1939, to August 6, 1941. He was responsible for the plans, procedures, allotment, and assignment of all Air Force personnel during a period in which the Army Air Forces expanded more than ten-fold. His foresight, tireless effort and superior knowledge of Army Air Force personnel problems and their relation to the technical, training, and tactical aspects of the broad program enabled him to effect soundly conceived plans, and to render expert counsel and advice for carrying those plans into effect. By his outstanding ability, energy, and judgement he made a major contribution to the military program of the United States.”
Service:
His pre-World War service included a commission into the Alabama Infantry as second and first lieutenant, respectively. In September 1917, he joined the 117th Field Artillery until January 9, 1918, when he was transferred to the School for Aerial Observers, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and at Post Field, Oklahoma. Following graduation he was detailed for duty with the 91st Aero Squadron. He joined the American Expeditionary Forces on July 13, 1918, and upon arrival in France, went to the front. He participated in the Meusse-Argonne operations receiving a citation in the general orders for outstanding service while acting as observer with the 91st Aero Squadron on important missions to enemy territory in the region of Brieulles and other points. He returned to the United States on June 19, 1919, and was stationed briefly at Camp Meade, Maryland, and then was transferred to Park Field, Tennessee, on July 27, 1919, as Camp Supply and Finance Officer and as Quartermaster.
He enrolled in Flight School at Carlstrom Field, Florida, in March 1921, and was graduated in August 1921, then went to Kelly Field, Texas, where he entered the School for Bombardment Training, from which he graduated with the 1921 Class. He returned to Kelly Field, Texas, becoming Commanding Officer of the 49th Squadron until May 1922, when he was chosen as an instructor for the Alabama National Guard at Birmingham, Alabama. Completing his tour, he was assigned to command the 20th Bombardment Squadron at Langley Field, Virginia, on August 1, 1927.
He enrolled in the Air Corps Tactical School, Langley Field, Virginia, in December 1928, and was graduated on June 30, 1929. He then enrolled in the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, graduating from the two-year course on June 19, 1931. From that date until February 10, 1934, he was on duty in the Office, Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C., then became Chief of the Military Intelligence Division at Headquarters of the Army Air Corps Mail Operations until July 1, 1934. He continued on various duties in the Office, Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C., until January 1935, when he was assigned as Commanding Officer of Luke Field, Hawaii.
He was Air Base Executive Officer at March Field, California, between December 14, 1936, and February 28, 1939. He then served as Chief of the Personnel Division of the Office, Chief of the Air Corps, Washington, D.C. At the end of February 1939, he was ordered to Washington, where he headed the Personnel Division, in the Office of the Chief of the Air Corps.
In August, 1941, as a colonel, General Duncan was appointed Commanding Officer of the Savannah Air Base, Georgia, and a month later assumed command of the 3d Air Support Command, when the unit came into being at the station on 1 September. Relieved from this assignment on 28 January 1942, he was designated commander of the Eighth Air Force, upon its activation at the Savannah Air Base on that date. Promotion to Brigadier General soon followed. On 5 May 1942, when the Eighth Air Force was sent overseas, General Duncan also was ordered to the European Theater of Operations and there served as Chief of Staff, under Major General Carl Spaatz, the new commander of the Eighth Air Force – a position he was still holding at the time he was reported missing in action on November 17, 1942. General Duncan was a passenger on a B-17 travelling from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar that crashed in the ocean, killing all aboard.
General Duncan, along with the B-17 crew (15 AF, 97BG, 341 BS), are honored at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridgeshire, England.
He was a rated Command Pilot and Combat Observer.