Henry Jervis Friese Miller was born in Alloway, New Jersey, on September 10, 1890. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry on June 12, 1915.
SERVICE
In September 1915, he was assigned to the 11th Cavalry at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, where he served until moving with his regiment to the Mexican border in March 1916. At that time, he entered Mexico with the Punitive Expedition under command of General Pershing. He remained in Mexico with the 11th Cavalry until February 1917, when his regiment moved to Camp Stewart, El Paso, Texas. In April 1917, he returned to Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, for duty with the 23rd Cavalry.
In July 1917, he was detailed to the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps and sent to Rockwell Field, San Diego, California, where he was taught to fly and received the rating of Junior Military Aviator. He was assigned to Call Field, Wichita Falls, Texas, as Assistant Officer in Charge of Flying. He remained on this duty from April 1918 to September 1918. He then transferred to Langley Field, Virginia, where he briefly served as Officer in Charge of Flying until going overseas in October 1918. He soon arrived in England where he was assigned to the Handley Page Unit #1 at Tangmere.
Upon returning to the United States in December 1918, he served with the 1st Provisional Wing at Garden City, Long Island, New York, to April 1919, and then commanded the eastern flight of the Victory Loan Flying Circus from April to May 1919. He was next assigned as Officer in Charge of Flying at Hazelhurst Field, Long Island, New York, holding this duty until November 1919. He then moved to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York, as Officer in Charge of Flying and Executive Officer until April 1921 when he went to Kelly Field, Texas. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2d Bombardment Group at Kelly Field and later that year he served on detached duty with Brigadier General William “Billy” Mitchell’s 1st Provisional Air Brigade at Langley Field, Virgina, in bombing demonstrations against warships, including the captured German battleship Ostfriesland, off the Virginia Capes.
In February 1922, he was transferred to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where he served with the Organized Reserves as Assistant Adjutant of the V Army Corps until February 1924, when he was appointed Assistant to the Chief of the Training Section of the Militia Bureau, Washington, D.C. In April 1926, he went to Hawaii as Executive and Commanding Officer of Luke Field, holding that post until December 1926 when he transferred to Wheeler Field, Hawaii, serving there as Commanding Officer of the 18th Pursuit Group. After returning to the United States in April 1929, he reported for duty that August as a student at the Air Corps Tactical School, Langley Field, Virginia. Upon graduation in June 1930, he was ordered to duty as a student at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Following completion of the two-year course in June 1932, he served as Executive Officer of Brooks Field, Texas, and the 12th Observation Group before being appointed Air Officer of the Sixth Corps Area in Chicago, Illinois, in May 1934. He was appointed Commanding Officer of Brooks Field, Texas, and the 12th Observation Group in October 1935, holding that position until August 1937. He was next named Commanding Officer of the San Antonio Air Depot, Duncan Field Texas. He remained there until March 1941, when he was made Commanding Officer of the Air Corps Maintenance Command at Patterson Field, Ohio. In October 1941, his position was reorganized and retitled as Commanding General of the Air Service Command at Wright Field, Ohio. To better liaise with Headquarters Army Air Forces and other government agencies, his command transferred to Washington, D.C., in December 1941.
In November 1942, he went overseas to England where he was appointed Commanding General of the VIII Air Force Service Command. In October 1943, he was made Commanding General of the IX Air Force Service Command, also based in England. On May 6, 1944, he was relieved of duty and reduced in rank for a security incident. He returned to the United States for medical treatment and to await retirement for physical disability in the rank of colonel (advanced to brigadier general in 1948) on November 30, 1944.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Cadet, U.S. Military Academy, June 14, 1911; Second Lieutenant, Cavalry, June 12, 1915; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1916; Captain, July 25, 1917; Major, Cavalry, U.S.A., July 30, 1918, to March 15, 1920; transferred to Air Service, July 1, 1920; Major, July 16, 1920 (recess appointment, expired March 4, 1921); Major, August 6, 1920; discharged as Major and appointed Captain, November 4, 1922; Militia Bureau, April 4, 1924; Major, March 17, 1925; released from Militia Bureau, March 9, 1926; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), June 18, 1935, to October 15, 1935; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), October 29, 1935, to June 16, 1936; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), June 16, 1936, to November 1, 1936; Lieutenant Colonel, November 1, 1936; Colonel (temporary), March 1, 1940; Colonel, A.U.S., June 26, 1941; Brigadier General, A.U.S., July 10, 1941; Major General, A.U.S., February 27, 1942; terminated Colonel (temporary), May 6, 1944; terminated Major General, A.U.S., May 6, 1944; Colonel, March 1, 1944; retired, disability in line of duty, with rank of Colonel, November 30, 1944; advanced to Brigadier General, with date of rank November 30, 1944, on the United States Air Force retired list, December 17, 1948.
DECORATIONS
Mexican Service Medal, World War I Victory Medal with service clasp for England, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal.
References:
Cullum, George W., “Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, New York Since its Establishment in 1802,” Supplement Vol. VI-B (1910-1920), pp. 1778-1779, Supplement, Vol. VII (1920-1930), p. 1098, Supplement, Vol. VIII (1930-1940), p. 300; Official Army and Air Force Register, Vol. II, 1 January 1948, p. 2344; Air Force Register, 1 January 1949, p. 272; USAF Historical Study No. 91: Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers 1917 to 1952, Vol. II (L through Z), entry for Miller, Henry J. F.; GSA Form 6851-National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records), “Statement of Service for Henry J. F. Miller, AO3863,” undated.