George P. Tourtellot was born at Dows, Iowa, on November 5, 1895. He enlisted as an aviation cadet on December 15, 1917, and was commissioned a second lieutenant (temporary), Air Service, on July 23, 1918. On July 1, 1920, he was appointed a second lieutenant, Air Service, Regular Army.
SERVICE
He was assigned to Kelly Field, Texas, in December 1917, for flight training. In August 1918 he went to Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, where he took a course in Pursuit Gunnery, and in September 1918, sailed with the American Expeditionary Forces to France where he underwent a course in the Pursuit School at Issoudun, France. Upon completion in December 1918, he moved to Colombey-les-Belles where he served as a Ferry Pilot until January 1919 when he moved to Grandes, France, and became a member of the 2d Pursuit Group, serving with the 22d Pursuit Squadron. The following April he went to Coblenz, Germany, as a member of the Army of Occupation, remaining there with the 5th Pursuit Group until September 1919.
Upon returning to the United States, he served as Flight Commander, Operations Officer, and Commanding Officer of the 27th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, at Kelly Field, Texas, until May 1921. He then went to Langley Field, Virginia, to take part in the bombing exercises that were then being directed by General “Billy” Mitchell. He remained there until December 1921 when he was sent to Ellington Field, Texas, for reassignment with the 1st Pursuit Group.
In July 1922 he moved with the 1st Pursuit Group to Selfridge Field, Michigan, and served as Flight Commander, Operations and Engineering Officer of the 94th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field. He was transferred to McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, as Test Pilot, Flying Section, Air Service Engineering Division in September 1924. He was assigned to the Air Corps Engineering School, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in August 1928, and following his graduation became Engineering Officer at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., in September 1929.
In June 1930 he went to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he joined the 18th Pursuit Group and became Commanding Officer of the 71st Service Squadron and Station Engineering Officer. Returning to the United States in August 1933, he proceeded to Selfridge Field, Michigan, serving there in various staff capacities until April 1934, when he became Commanding Officer of the 17th Pursuit Squadron. He was assigned to the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1936; was graduated in June 1937; and the following July became an instructor, Air Corps, Michigan National Guard, stationed at Detroit, Michigan. In September 1939 he entered the Command and General Staff, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was graduated in February 1940. He was then assigned to the 35th Pursuit Group as Deputy Group Commander and served in that capacity until March 1941 when he became Commanding Officer of the 35th Pursuit Group, General Headquarters Air Force, at Moffet Field and Hamilton Field, California.
He was assigned to the II Interceptor Command, Fort Lawton, Washington, as Executive Officer in November 1941, and in March 1942 was transferred to the III Interceptor Command, Drew Field, Florida, again serving as Executive Officer. He became Commanding Officer of the III Fighter Command, Drew Field, Florida, in June 1942 and the following October went overseas to serve as Commanding Officer of the Army Air Forces in Iceland. In January 1943 he was named to command the 24th Composite Wing in Iceland. He returned to the United States in June 1944 and became Commanding General of the 72d Fighter Wing, Peterson Field, Colorado. In January 1945 he went to the Pacific as Commanding General of the Philippine Air Defense Command. During the campaign in the Philippines, he observed, or took part in paratroop drops and troop landings at Batangas, Mariveles and Corregidor, as well as the air support of ground operations against Japanese forces. He also took part in several bombing missions against Japan and coastal China.
He returned to the United States in January 1946 and became Commanding Officer of MacDill Field, Florida. In September of that year he was named Commanding Officer of Selfridge Field, Michigan, where he suffered a fatal heart attack on October 26, 1946.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private 1st Class, Aviation Section, Signal Corps, Enlisted Reserve Corps, December 15, 1917, to July 22, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, U.S.A., July 23, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; First Lieutenant and transferred to Air Service, July 1, 1920; Captain, April 1, 1934; Major (temporary), April 20, 1935, to June 16, 1936; Major (temporary), August 26, 1936, to July 1, 1940; Major, July 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), March 21, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., September 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, November 16, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., February 4, 1943. He vacated the rank of Brigadier General, A.U.S., on December 31, 1945, and reverted to his permanent rank of Colonel.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, Air Medal, World War I Victory Medal, Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal.