Spaatz, << spahts, >> Carl (1891-1974), was a distinguished combat leader of the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) in World War II (1939-1945). He pioneered the AAF’s strategic bombing doctrine, which emphasized the bombing of enemy industrial sites.
In 1942, Spaatz became commander of the Eighth Air Force in England. In 1943, he was promoted to lieutenant general and took command of the Northwest African Air Forces. This combined American-British force supported the conquest of Tunisia and the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Spaatz then led the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe for the final assault on Germany in 1944 and 1945. See World War II (The air war) .
After the victory in Europe, Spaatz went to the Pacific, where his air forces bombed Japan. He commanded the Army Air Forces in 1946, and he became the first chief of staff of the newly independent U.S. Air Force in 1947.
Spaatz was born on June 28, 1891, in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1914. Spaatz died on July 4, 1974.
