Joe L. Loutzenheiser was born on February 5, 1899, at Canton, Ohio. He enlisted in the Army in June 1919 and served as a private in the Quartermaster Corps at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, before being appointed to the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in July 1920. He was graduated from the Academy in June 1924 as a second lieutenant of Cavalry. He transferred to the Air Corps in May 1928.
SERVICE
He was first assigned to the 5th Cavalry at Fort Clark, Texas, and in December 1925 was transferred to the 7th Cavalry at Fort Bliss, Texas. In March 1926 he was assigned as a student to the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, and later went on to Advanced Training at Kelly Field, Texas, from which he was graduated in February 1927. Until July 1927 he was Assistant Engineering Officer of the 41st School Squadron at Kelly Field, and then was transferred to Chanute Field, Illinois.
In October 1929 he joined the 19th Pursuit Squadron at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and later became Adjutant and Operations Officer of the Squadron. He returned to the United States in November 1931 and joined the 17th Pursuit Group at March Field, California, serving as Group Operations Officer until May 1933 when he went on Civilian Conservation Corps duty in the Fresno District, California. In February 1934 he served as a pilot in the Western Zone, Army Air Corps Mail Operations, with headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah, and upon completion of this duty returned the following May to the 17th Pursuit Group at March Field. In March 1935 he became Acting Intelligence Officer of the 1st Wing, General Headquarters Air Force at March Field, and later Assistant Operations Officer.
He attended the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama, in July 1936, and was graduated in June 1937. He then entered the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as a student and was graduated in June 1938. He then became Secretary of the Chanute Field Branch of the Air Corps Technical Schools, and later Commanding Officer of the 10th Air Base Squadron. In September 1940 he was assigned to the Training and Operations Division of the War Department General Staff in Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief of the Training Section, later becoming Chief. In January 1943 he was made Chief of the Strategical Section in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Plans, and in June 1943 Chief of the Operational Plans Division of the same headquarters.
In June 1945, he was transferred overseas to Okinawa where he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, Eighth Air Force.
General Loutzenheiser was killed in a B-29 crash in the Pacific while on a flight from Okinawa to Guam on October 7, 1945.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, Technical Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private, Student Army Training Corps, October 4, 1918, to December 13, 1918; Private, Infantry and Quartermaster Corps, June 19, 1919, to July 1, 1920; Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, July 2, 1920; Second Lieutenant, Cavalry, June 12, 1924; transferred to Air Service, March 13, 1926; transferred to Air Corps, May 18, 1928; First Lieutenant, June 2, 1929; Captain (temporary), April 20, 1935; Captain, August 1, 1935; Major (temporary), March 11, 1940; Major, June 12, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), November 15, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., January 15, 1943; Brigadier General, A.U.S., August 15, 1944.
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit.