Brigadier General Merrick G. Estabrook Jr. Brig. Gen. Merrick Gay Estabrook, Jr., was born on July 12, 1886, at Boston, Massachusetts. He was graduated from Harvard University in 1909. On November 27, 1917, he was appointed a first lieutenant, Aviation Section, Signal Reserve, serving on active duty until he was honorably discharged on April 9, 1919. On July 1, 1920, he was commissioned first lieutenant, Air Service, Regular Army.SERVICEHe attended the School of Military Aeronautics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, from November to December 1917, and in January 1918 entered the School of Military Aeronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. The following March he became Assistant Engineer Officer, Air Service, Carruthers Field, Texas. His next assignment was to Carlstrom Field, Florida, in September 1920, where he entered the Air Service Pilot School. He completed the course in March 1921, and was assigned to the 2d Bombardment Group, Kelly Field, Texas, to continue his flying training.In July 1921, he became Commanding Officer of the 20th Bombardment Squadron at Kelly Field, until January 1922, when he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Service, Washington, D.C., for duty in the Supply Division. He was ordered to the Philippine Air Depot, Camp Nichols, Rizal, Philippine Islands, and in December 1925 became Depot Supply Officer.Upon his return to the United States he became Assistant to the Chief, Supply Branch, Field Service Section, Air Corps Material Division, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in September 1927. He was transferred to the Middletown Air Depot, Middletown, Pennsylvania, in January 1928 as Engineer Officer. He entered the Air Corps Engineer School, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in July 1931, and was graduated in June 1932. The following July he became Chief, Material Liaison Section, Office, Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C., until August 1935, when he entered the Army Industrial College, Washington, D.C. Following his graduation in June 1936, he became Chief, Engineering Shops Branch, Air Corps Material Division, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.He became Assistant Chief, Contract Section, Air Corps Material Division, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in July 1938, and in October 1939 was named Commanding Officer of the Fairfield Air Depot, Patterson Field, Fairfield, Ohio.In February 1943 he was designated Commanding Officer, Fairfield Air Depot Control Area Command, Patterson Field, Ohio (redesignated Fairfield Air Service Command). He was retired from active service on August 31, 1944.He was rated a Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.PROMOTIONSFirst Lieutenant, Aviation Section Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, November 27, 1917; honorably discharged, April 9, 1919; First Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; Captain, October 30, 1928; Major (temporary), June 16, 1936, to April 1, 1938; Major, April 1, 1938; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), March 1, 1940, to November 29, 1940; Colonel (temporary), July 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., September 17, 1943; retired, disability in line of duty, with rank of Brigadier General, August 31, 1944.(Current as of October 2024)