Walter Jay Reed was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on November 7, 1893. He was graduated from the Columbia University School of Architecture, New York City, in June 1917, and the same month enlisted as a sergeant in the Reserve Corps. He reported to the Army Balloon School, Fort Omaha, Nebraska, for training as Balloon Observer and on September 20, 1917, received his commission as first lieutenant, Aviation Section, Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps.
He was placed on active duty and in November 1917 sailed with Company “A”, 2nd Balloon Squadron for France. He participated in the Meuse-Argonne, St. Mihiel, Oise-Aisne and Aisne-Marne Offensives, and was later assigned to the 3rd Corps of the Army of Occupation and sent to Germany.
In February 1919 he went to Paris and then to Rocheford sur mer for training as a Dirigible Pilot at the French Ecole D’Aerostation, Marrtime.
He was promoted to captain in April 1919 and the following July returned to the United States. He was honorably discharged on October 8, 1919. In the following months he served in a civilian capacity as Engineer Expert for Airship Activities at Langley Field, Virginia, and on March 8, 1920, he was reappointed captain, Aviation Section, Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps. On July 1, 1920, he was commissioned first lieutenant, Air Service, in the Regular Army.
He was first stationed at Langley Field, Virginia, where he served until February 1921 at which time he was sent to Rome, Italy, as a member of the Roma Detachment which had charge of supervising the packing and shipment of the airship “Roma,” purchased from the Italian Government. In July 1921 he returned to Langley Field, served there as Chief Pilot of the Dirigible “Roma” and Engineer Officer and Flying Instructor until he was ordered to Lakehurst, New Jersey, in July 1922, for duty as Army Observer during the erection of the Naval Airship USS “Shenandoah” (ZR-1). While at Lakehurst he completed a course in the operation of rigid airships.
In March 1924 he returned to Langley Field as an instructor in the Air Service Tactical School. He was sent to Brooks Field, Texas, in March 1926 and studied in the Air Service Primary Flying School until the following September when he transferred to the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. In February 1927 he was ordered to Washington, D.C., and assigned to the Office, Chief of Air Corps, as Assistant Chief, Personnel Division. He transferred to the Buildings and Grounds Division in November 1927 and served as Assistant to the Chief until February 1930 when he enrolled in the Air Corps Primary Flying School, Riverside, California. In June 1930 he entered the Air Corps Tactical School, Langley Field, Virginia, and upon completing his course in June 1931 was ordered to Nichols Field, Rizal, Philippine Islands, for Post Staff duties. In June 1934 he returned to the United States and was assigned to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, serving there as Executive Officer and Operations Officer of the 9th Bombardment Group.
He entered the Air Corps Primary Flying School, Randolph Field, Texas, in June 1936 and in February 1937 was transferred to the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. In July 1937, upon completing his course, he returned to duty at Langley Field, Virginia. He entered the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in September 1938 and upon completing his course in July 1939, he was assigned to the Office, Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C. He served in various capacities, including Chief of Development of Grounds, and duty in the Planning Division, until March 1942 when he was made Chief of Staff of the 1st District, Army Air Forces Technical Training Command, Greensboro, North Carolina. In May 1942 he became Commandant of the Army Air Forces Technical School, Goldsboro, North Carolina.
In March 1943 he was named Commanding General of the VII Air Force Service Command in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
He was retired from active service on February 28, 1945, in the rank of brigadier general.
He was rated a Senior Pilot, Balloon Pilot, Combat Observer, Balloon Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Sergeant, Aviation Section, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, June 11, 1917, to September 25, 1917; First Lieutenant, Aviation Section, Signal Officers’ Reserve Corps, September 20, 1917; Captain, Air Service, U.S.A., April 7, 1919; honorably discharged, October 8, 1919; First Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; Captain, January 28, 1921; discharged as Captain and appointed First Lieutenant, November 18, 1922; Captain, August 26, 1927; Major (temporary), April 20, 1935; Major, December 1, 1936; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), March 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel, October 9, 1940; Colonel (temporary), April 21, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S., June 3, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., December 6, 1942; retired, disability in line duty, with rank of Brigadier General, February 28, 1945.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, World War I Victory Medal, Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
(Reed biography dated December 28, 1943, supplemented by information from USAF Historical Study No. 91: Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers 1917 to 1952.)