MAJOR GENERAL OSCAR WESTOVER

23 JUL 1883 - 21 SEP 1938

A 1906 graduate of West Point Military Academy, Oscar Westover began his military career as a Second Lieutenant in the infantry.  In 1919, Captain Westover transferred to the Aviation Section of the Army Signal Corps, and within a year he earned the rank of Major, where he transferred to the Air Service.  From April 1921 - December 1922, he was the Director of Aircraft Production, in the Chief of the Air Corps Office.  From 1924 - 1926, he was assigned to the Air Service Tactical School at Langley Field, Virginia, where he was appointed Commandant of the school and Commanding Officer of the base.

On December 22, 1931, Brigadier General Westover became the Assistant to the Chief of the Air Corps, and on December 22, 1935, was appointed Chief of The Air Corps.  On September 21, 1938, Major General Westover's distinguished military career came to a tragic end, when the two-seat Northrop aircraft he was flying crashed in Burbank, California.

On December 1, 1939, the Northeast Air Base was renamed to Westover Field, in honor and memory of the late Air Corps Chief.

 

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