Martinus Stenseth was born at Heiberg, Minnesota, on June 11, 1890. He enlisted on November 1, 1915, in the Minnesota National Guard. He enlisted in the Aviation Section, Enlisted Reserve Corps, in August 1917, and was commissioned a first lieutenant on May 13, 1918.
SERVICE
He went to France in October 1917, and while with the 28th Aero Squadron was credited with destroying eight enemy planes, qualifying him as an Ace. He was Commanding Officer of an Aero Squadron at Grande, France, from February through April 1919. He then served with the American Relief Administration in Libau, Latvia, from May to September 1919. He returned to the United States and was assigned to the 147th Aero Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas.
He was transferred to San Antonio, Texas, in March 1920, as Assistant Provost Marshal at Military Police Headquarters, and the following June was ordered to Sanderson, Texas, as Commanding Officer of the Airdrome, and of the 90th Aero Squadron. In August 1921 he returned to Kelly Field, Texas, as Personnel Adjutant of the 3rd Attack Group, and in August 1922, was transferred to Des Moines, Iowa, as Executive Officer of the 313th Observation Squadron, 88th Division.
In January 1924 he was assigned to the San Antonio Intermediate Air Depot, Texas, as assistant to then Engineer Officer and as Test Pilot. He was sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the 313th Observation Squadron as Executive Officer in March 1924.
In July 1925 he proceeded to Richards Field, Missouri, as Flying Instructor and in September of that year returned to the 313th Observation Squadron as Executive Officer at Minneapolis, Minnesota. In September 1926 he went to Langley Field, Virginia, where he was detailed as a student officer at the Air Corps Tactical School from which he was graduated in June 1927.
He was then assigned to the Cavalry School, Advanced Course, at Fort Riley, Kansas, in August 1927, and was graduated in June 1928, becoming Assistant Post Operations Officer at Selfridge Field, Michigan. In October 1928 he assumed command of the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field. In July 1929 he was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he was attached to the War Plans Section, Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. He became Assistant to the Chief, Operations and Organization Division, Militia Bureau, Washington, D.C., in October 1930.
He was named Post and Group Operations Officer, Nichols Field, Philippine Islands, in August 1933, and became Commanding Officer of the 2d Observation Squadron at the field in July 1934. In April 1936 he became Commanding Officer of the Air Corps Primary Flying School Detachment at Randolph Field, Texas. He later commanded the 52d School Squadron at Randolph Field, Texas. In May 1940, he became Assistant Military Attaché to Latvia and Finland, returning to the United States the following September. He then reported to Moffett Field, California, as Post Administrative Inspector. In May 1941 he went to Las Vegas, Nevada, as Base Commanding Officer of the Air Corps Gunnery School. He became Commanding General of the 82nd Flying Training Wing, Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 1943, and in May 1945 assumed command of the Iceland Base Command.
Returning to the United States in December 1945, and reverting to the rank of colonel on April 18, 1946, he was appointed Air Inspector, Headquarters Second Air Force, at Fort Crook, Nebraska. He then became Air Inspector, Headquarters Tenth Air Force, at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, before his transfer to the U.S. Air Force Inspector General’s office at Kelly AFB, Texas. He retired from the Air Force on June 30, 1950, in the grade of Brigadier General.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private, Corporal, Company I, 3rd Infantry, Minnesota National Guard, November 1, 1915, to February 28, 1917; Private, 14th and 9th Companies, 13th Provisional Training Regiment and Aviation Section Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, August 15, 1917, to May 23, 1918; First Lieutenant, Air Service, N.A, May 13, 1918; Captain, Air Service, U.S.A, February 23, 1919; First Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; Militia Bureau, October 15, 1930; Captain, September 1, 1932; relieved Militia Bureau, June 18, 1933; Major (temporary), March 15, 1935, to February 6, 1936; Captain, February 7, 1936; Major (temporary), August 26, 1936, to October 1, 1939; Major, October 1, 1939; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), February 1, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., June 12, 1941; Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, February 4, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., April 27, 1943; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., April 18, 1946; Colonel, A.U.S., January 5, 1942; Colonel, April 2, 1948; retired, disability in line of duty, in the grade of Brigadier General, June 30, 1950.
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Mexican Border Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Commander’s Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1918, with the following citation:
“First Lieutenant, 28th Aero Squadron, Air Service. For extraordinary heroism in action Oct. 22, 1918, over the Argonne Forest when he went to the rescue of a French plane attacked by six enemy Fokker planes with an additional 12enemy planes hovering in reserve. Attacking the enemy with vigor, single handed, he dove down and destroyed one enemy plane and put to flight the remainder. His gallant act in the face of overwhelming odds proved an inspiration to the men of his squadron.”
He was also awarded a Silver Star citation for action over the Argonne Forest.
He was awarded the Legion of Merit in April 1944, with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as Commanding Officer of the Army Air Forces Gunnery School, Las Vegas, Nevada, for the period 12 May 1941 to 8 June 1943. With vigor, tact and skill, General Stenseth established the first school for Aerial Gunnery Training in the Flying Training Command. Without benefit of models or established gunnery schools, he caused the means at his disposal to be so used that the school was in condition to begin training on schedule. By his superior judgement, careful planning, and intense energy, training of Aerial Gunners, which has been proven of upmost importance, was successfully instituted. Through his efficient leadership and maximum utilization of personnel and equipment available, other gunnery schools have been established and maintained on the same high level and both the quantity and quality of serial gunners produced have contributed to the successful fulfillment of the mission of the Army Air Forces.”
AERIAL VICTORIES
During World War I, Martinus Stenseth received official credit for shooting down eight German aircraft (September 26, 1918; September 28, 1918 [2 victories]; October 2, 1918; October 22, 1918; October 29, 1918 [2 victories]; November 6, 1918) while serving as a pilot in the 28th Aero Squadron in France.
(Stenseth biography dated 29 April 1946, supplemented by information from USAF Historical Study No. 91: Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers 1917 to 1952.)