MAJOR GENERAL DELMAR HALL DUNTON
Delmar Hall Dunton was born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 1, 1890. He entered the Army as a flying cadet on December 29, 1917, and was commissioned a temporary second lieutenant in the Air Service on August 3, 1918.
SERVICE
From December 1917 until February 1918, he attended the School of Military Aeronautics at Austin, Texas, then transferred to Camp Dick, Texas. From April 1918, to September 1919, he served, successively, at Barron Field, Texas, and Ellington Field, Texas; and then went to Kelly Field, Texas, as Engineering Officer of the 20th Aero Squadron.
He transferred, in March 1921, to the 2nd Bombardment Group at Kelly Field, Texas, and in June 1921, moved to Langley Field, Virginia, for duty with the 14th Bombardment Squadron. He returned to Kelly Field, Texas, in February 1922, and became Engineering Officer of the 10th School Group. In January 1923, he became an Instructor and Officer in Charge of Flying, Air Service Advanced Flying School, at Kelly Field.
In June 1924, he was ordered to Camp Nichols, Philippine Islands, to serve with the 28th Bombardment Squadron, as Engineering Officer, until his return to the United States in July 1926. He then was assigned to the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas.
He became Commanding Officer of the 41st School Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1926, transferring in April 1928 to the 68th Service Squadron there. In March 1930, he was named Engineering Officer, Air Corps Advanced Flying School, and in August 1930, he went to Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief of the Inspection Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps.
In May 1932 he went to Rockwell Field, California, as Operations Officer, becoming Engineering Officer of the 19th Bombardment Group there in July 1932. In March 1934, he transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah, as Engineering Officer for that zone in the Army Air Corps Mail Operations. He returned to Rockwell Field, California, in May 1934, and in April 1935, went to Hamilton Field, California, as Supply Officer. He became Material Officer of the 7th Bombardment Group at Hamilton Field, California, in September 1936, and later was assigned as Supply Officer, S-4, of the of the 7th Bombardment Group.
He was detailed to the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1937, and was graduated in June 1938, after which he was assigned to Langley Field, Virginia, for duty with the 2nd Wing. In September 1939 he became Commanding Officer of the 27th Reconnaissance Squadron at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. He was designated Commanding Officer of Ponce Air Base in Puerto Rico in October 1940, and of Losey Field, Puerto Rico, in April 1941. The following November he was assigned to the San Antonio Air Depot at Duncan Field, Texas.
He was designated Chief of Maintenance and Repair, VIII Air Service Command, in Britain, in June 1942, and the following September assumed command of the XII Air Force Service Command (subsequently redesignated Northwest African Air Service Command in March 1943). He served in this capacity until he returned to the United States in June 1943, and proceeded to Patterson Field, Ohio, where he became Deputy Commander, Air Service Command, that August. In July 1944, he moved to Wright Field, Ohio, and assumed duty as Commanding General, Air Service Command, Army Air Forces Material and Services. He was relieved in December 1944 and on March 31, 1945, was retired in the grade of Major General.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private 1st Class, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, December 29, 1917, to August 2, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service USA, August 3, 1918, to September 15, 1920; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1920; Captain, June 1, 1934; Major (temporary), May 25, 1935, to June 16, 1936; Major (temporary), January 26, 1937; Major, July 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), March 21, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., September 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., June 25, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, November 16, 1942; Major General, A.U.S., March 16, 1943; retired, disability in line of duty, with rank of Major General, March 31, 1945.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, 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, British Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division).
He was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1943, with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. He assumed command of the XII Air Force Service Command 30 September 1942, and expeditiously organized and trained it for efficient movement to and operation in North Africa. As the North African Theater expanded, the receipt, transportation and distribution of supplies, as well as the assembly, maintenance and repair of aircraft and vehicles became an ever-increasing task. When the American and British Air Forces were consolidated, the XII Air Force Service Command absorbed most of the units of the Eastern Air Command, and was charged with the same responsibilities for the combined air forces. During the entire period, General Dunton demonstrated devotion to duty, initiative, and resourcefulness which inspired his subordinates to greater efforts than they believed possible, and which contributed in a large degree to the successful conclusion of the North African campaign.”
SERVICE
From December 1917 until February 1918, he attended the School of Military Aeronautics at Austin, Texas, then transferred to Camp Dick, Texas. From April 1918, to September 1919, he served, successively, at Barron Field, Texas, and Ellington Field, Texas; and then went to Kelly Field, Texas, as Engineering Officer of the 20th Aero Squadron.
He transferred, in March 1921, to the 2nd Bombardment Group at Kelly Field, Texas, and in June 1921, moved to Langley Field, Virginia, for duty with the 14th Bombardment Squadron. He returned to Kelly Field, Texas, in February 1922, and became Engineering Officer of the 10th School Group. In January 1923, he became an Instructor and Officer in Charge of Flying, Air Service Advanced Flying School, at Kelly Field.
In June 1924, he was ordered to Camp Nichols, Philippine Islands, to serve with the 28th Bombardment Squadron, as Engineering Officer, until his return to the United States in July 1926. He then was assigned to the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas.
He became Commanding Officer of the 41st School Squadron at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1926, transferring in April 1928 to the 68th Service Squadron there. In March 1930, he was named Engineering Officer, Air Corps Advanced Flying School, and in August 1930, he went to Washington, D.C., as Assistant Chief of the Inspection Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps.
In May 1932 he went to Rockwell Field, California, as Operations Officer, becoming Engineering Officer of the 19th Bombardment Group there in July 1932. In March 1934, he transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah, as Engineering Officer for that zone in the Army Air Corps Mail Operations. He returned to Rockwell Field, California, in May 1934, and in April 1935, went to Hamilton Field, California, as Supply Officer. He became Material Officer of the 7th Bombardment Group at Hamilton Field, California, in September 1936, and later was assigned as Supply Officer, S-4, of the of the 7th Bombardment Group.
He was detailed to the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1937, and was graduated in June 1938, after which he was assigned to Langley Field, Virginia, for duty with the 2nd Wing. In September 1939 he became Commanding Officer of the 27th Reconnaissance Squadron at Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico. He was designated Commanding Officer of Ponce Air Base in Puerto Rico in October 1940, and of Losey Field, Puerto Rico, in April 1941. The following November he was assigned to the San Antonio Air Depot at Duncan Field, Texas.
He was designated Chief of Maintenance and Repair, VIII Air Service Command, in Britain, in June 1942, and the following September assumed command of the XII Air Force Service Command (subsequently redesignated Northwest African Air Service Command in March 1943). He served in this capacity until he returned to the United States in June 1943, and proceeded to Patterson Field, Ohio, where he became Deputy Commander, Air Service Command, that August. In July 1944, he moved to Wright Field, Ohio, and assumed duty as Commanding General, Air Service Command, Army Air Forces Material and Services. He was relieved in December 1944 and on March 31, 1945, was retired in the grade of Major General.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Technical Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private 1st Class, Signal Enlisted Reserve Corps, December 29, 1917, to August 2, 1918; Second Lieutenant, Air Service USA, August 3, 1918, to September 15, 1920; Second Lieutenant, Air Service, July 1, 1920; First Lieutenant, July 1, 1920; Captain, June 1, 1934; Major (temporary), May 25, 1935, to June 16, 1936; Major (temporary), January 26, 1937; Major, July 1, 1940; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), March 21, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., September 15, 1941; Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Brigadier General, A.U.S., June 25, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, November 16, 1942; Major General, A.U.S., March 16, 1943; retired, disability in line of duty, with rank of Major General, March 31, 1945.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit, 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, British Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division).
He was awarded the Legion of Merit in 1943, with the following citation:
“For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. He assumed command of the XII Air Force Service Command 30 September 1942, and expeditiously organized and trained it for efficient movement to and operation in North Africa. As the North African Theater expanded, the receipt, transportation and distribution of supplies, as well as the assembly, maintenance and repair of aircraft and vehicles became an ever-increasing task. When the American and British Air Forces were consolidated, the XII Air Force Service Command absorbed most of the units of the Eastern Air Command, and was charged with the same responsibilities for the combined air forces. During the entire period, General Dunton demonstrated devotion to duty, initiative, and resourcefulness which inspired his subordinates to greater efforts than they believed possible, and which contributed in a large degree to the successful conclusion of the North African campaign.”
