Carlyle H. Wash was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on October 15, 1889. Upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, he was appointed a second lieutenant of Infantry, on June 12, 1913.
SERVICE
He transferred to the Cavalry in September 1913 and first served with the 6th Cavalry at Texas City, Texas. His next assignment was on border patrol duty and to Mexico until May 1916. He again served on border patrol duty until August 1917 when he was assigned to the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps and underwent flight training at the Aviation School, San Diego, California. Upon his graduation he remained there as an instructor until February 1918. He served successively at Call Field, Wichita Falls, Texas; Souther Field, Americus, Georgia; and at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, to November 1919.
His next assignment was with the 15th Cavalry at Fort D. A. Russell (now Francis E. Warren), Wyoming, for a year when he transferred to the Air Service in July 1920 and entered the Air Service Engineering School at McCook Field, Ohio. Upon graduation he was assigned to the National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C. In July 1922 he went to Paris, France, as Assistant Military Attaché, American Embassy, and in 1924 was on duty as Advance Officer for the Around the World Flight of the Army Air Corps. Returning to the United States in April 1925 he became Executive Officer at Kelly Field, Texas, remaining there until March 1927 when he went to March Field, California, as Director of the Primary Flying School.
He was transferred to duty in the Panama Canal Department in April 1928 as Commanding Officer at France Field, Canal Zone. In 1929 he was transferred to the Hawaiian Department to command the 18th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field.
On his return to the United States in May 1931 he entered the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama. Graduating in June 1932 he became Executive Officer at Mitchel Field, New York. He enrolled in the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and graduated from the two-year course in 1936, following which he was assigned to March Field, California, until March 1940, when he became Command Officer at McChord Field, Washington. In October 1940 he became Commanding Officer of the 5h Bombardment Wing at Spokane, Washington. In April 1941 he was assigned as Commanding General of the II Interceptor Command, Second Air Force, Fort George Wright, Washington.
He next served with the III Fighter Command, Drew Field, Florida, until June 1942, when he became Commanding General of the Third Air Force, Tampa, Florida. In December 1942 he was made Commanding General of the II Air Support Command, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He died on January 26, 1943, in an airplane accident near Flomaton, Alabama. He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, Aircraft Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, March 1, 1909; Second Lieutenant, Infantry, June 12, 1913; transferred to Cavalry on September 11, 1913; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1916; Captain, May 15, 1917; Major (temporary), June 14, 1918, to March 27, 1920; Major, N.A., June 17, 1918, to July 24, 1918; transferred to Air Service on 1 July 1920; Major, July 1, 1920; Lieutenant Colonel, August 1, 1935; Colonel (temporary), July 14, 1939; Brigadier General, A.U.S., October 25, 1940; Colonel, July 1, 1942.
DECORATIONS
He was awarded the Legion of Merit, posthumously, in 1943, with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in duties of great responsibility in the organization of the III Interceptor Command from 1 March to 25 June 1942; the training of light, medium, and dive bombardment units and establishment of training proficiency standards in the Third Air Force, which he commanded from 25 June to 26 November 1942; and in the perfection and coordination of ground-air training in the II Ground-Air Support Command, which he commanded from 26 November 1942, until his death on 26 January 1943. General Wash’s tireless efforts, devotion, and superior knowledge of training problems enabled him to contribute largely to the efficient expansion of the Army Air Forces program and were of great value to his country.”
(Up to date as of January 11, 1944)