Oliver P. Echols

Oliver Patton Echols
Major General Oliver P. Echols
Born(1892-03-04)March 4, 1892
Charlottesville, Virginia
DiedMay 15, 1954(1954-05-15) (aged 62)
Los Angeles, California
Place of burial
1954–1990: Arlington National Cemetery
From 1990: Rockport Cemetery in Aransas County, Texas
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army Air Service
U.S. Army Air Corps
U.S. Army Air Forces
Years of service1916–1946
Rank Major general
Battles / warsWorld War I World War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (2)[1]
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Other workChairman and President of Northrop

Oliver Patton Echols (March 4, 1892[2] – May 15, 1954) was an American military officer who brought success in World War II to the United States Army Air Forces by expanding the inventory of America's air arm to meet the needs of the coming war. More than any other man under Chief of the Army Air Forces, General Henry H. Arnold, Echols was responsible for the development, procurement and supply of aircraft and aeronautical equipment.[3] Fighter projects officer Benjamin S. Kelsey, directly subordinate to Echols from 1934 to 1945, called him "The Man Who Won World War II."[4]

  1. ^ Official Army Register, 1946. Page 201. "Echols, Oliver P." (O4713) Retrieved on November 21, 2009.
  2. ^ Fogerty, Robert P. (1953). "Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 520–522. USAF historical studies: no. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  3. ^ United States Air Force. Biographies. "Major General Oliver P. Echols". Archived from the original on 2012-12-13., current as of August 1, 1968. Retrieved on June 5, 2009.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kelsey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).