Arnold Credit - NASA

Personal: Male. Born in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, USA.

Henry H. (Hap) Arnold Arnold (1886-1950) was Commander of the Army Air Forces in World War II, and the only air commander ever to attain the five-star rank of general of the armies. He was especially interested in the development of sophisticated aerospace technology to give the United States an edge in the achievement of air superiority and fostered the development of such innovations as jet aircraft, rocketry, rocket-assisted take-off, and supersonic flight. After a lengthy career as an Army aviator and commander that spanned the two world wars, he retired from active service in 1945.