Brigadier General JAMES ROY ANDERSEN

Born on May 10, 1904, in Racine, Wisconsin, General James Roy Andersen was graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1926. That August, he joined the 2nd Infantry at Fort Sheridan Illinois, and served at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; the Aberdeen (Maryland) Proving Ground Command and Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. Andersen as first lieutenant was with the Ordnance Department at Selfridge Field, Michigan from 1932-34. By 1936 he was promoted to captain and began cadet training, getting his wings at Kelly Field, Texas; and assignment to Hickam Field, Hawaii. During World War II he returned to West Point as an instructor, with promotion to colonel by early 1943. That June he went to the War Department General Staff in Plans. Andersen was promoted to brigadier general in January 1945, and went to the Pacific Theater where he was assigned as chief of staff of HQ AAF, Pacific Ocean Areas. He lost his life along with that of his commander, Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon, Jr. on February 26, 1945, in an aircraft crash between Kwajalein and Johnston Island while en route to Hawaii.

North Field AFB, Guam was renamed Andersen AFB in his honor on October 7, 1949.

Reference:
Dupre, Flint O., Col. USAFR., USAF Biographical Dictionary – Andersen, p. 5