Wolcott Paige Hayes was born in Washington, D.C. on December 17, 1894. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Calvary on August 9, 1917.
SERVICE
His first assignment was to the 24th Cavalry. In January 1918 he was assigned to the 12th Cavalry at Hachita, New Mexico. He went to the Philippine Islands in July 1919 for duty with the 9th Cavalry at Camp Stotsenburg. In January 1921 he returned to the United States and was detailed to the Air Service. He was assigned to March Field, California, for flying training.
In April 1921 he was sent to Kelly Field, Texas, for bombardment training and upon completing his course there, he was assigned to the 3rd Attack Group at Kelly Field. He transferred from Cavalry to the Air Service on February 7, 1922. He entered the Air Service Technical School at Chanute Field, Illinois, in August 1923 for the Communications Course. In August 1924 he entered Yale University at New Haven, Connecticut, for study in the Sheffield Scientific School of that university. Upon completing his course there in June 1925, he was sent to Mitchel Field, New York.
He was assigned to the New York National Guard as an aviation instructor in May 1928 and in December 1929 he was sent to Selfridge Field, Michigan, for duty. He entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in July 1932, and was graduated in June of the following year. He was then sent to Hawaii for duty with the 35th Service Squadron at Luke Field.
Returning to the United States in May 1935, he was sent to Kelly Field, Texas, for duty, and in August 1936 he became Air Officer of the Fourth Corps Area with headquarters at Atlanta, Georgia. In July 1940, he was named assistant commandant of the Air Corps Technical School at Scott Field, Illinois. He became Commandant of that school in June 1941, and in February 1944 he was named Commanding General of the Antilles Air Command at San Juan, Puerto Rico. In February 1945 he was assigned to Brunswick General Hospital, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
On December 31, 1945, he retired in the grade of brigadier general.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant of Cavalry, August 9, 1917; First Lieutenant (temporary), August 12, 1917; First Lieutenant, August 22, 1917; Captain (temporary), June 9, 1918, to March 27, 1920; Captain, August 1, 1920; Air Service, August 24, 1920; transferred to Air Service, February 7, 1922; Major (temporary), March 12, 1935, to June 22, 1935; Major, August 1, 1935; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), August 26, 1936, to August 9, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, August 9, 1940; Colonel (temporary), November 16, 1940; Colonel, A.U.S., December 24, 1941; Brigadier General, A.U.S., October 29, 1942; retired, disability in line of duty, in the grade of Brigadier General. December 31, 1945.
DECORATIONS
World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.