Carl Andrew Spaatz
| Carl Andrew Spaatz | |
|---|---|
Gen. Spaatz
|
|
| Birth name | Carl Andrew Spatz |
| Nickname(s) | Tooey |
| Born |
June 28, 1891 Boyertown, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Died | July 14, 1974 (aged 83) Washington, D.C., USA |
| Place of burial | United States Air Force Academy Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 Infantry, United States Army Aviation Section, Signal Corps Air Service, United States Army United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol |
| Years of service | 1914–1948 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Battles/wars |
Mexican Expedition World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Grand Officier of the Légion d'honneur Croix de guerre (Belgium) |
Carl Andrew "Tooey" Spaatz (June 28, 1891 – July 14, 1974) was an American World War II general. As commander of Strategic Air Forces in Europe in 1944, he successfully pressed for the bombing of the enemy’s oil production facilities as a priority over other targets. He became Chief of Staff of the newly formed United States Air Force in 1947.
Born as Carl Andrew Spatz, he legally added the second "a" in 1937 at the request of his wife and three daughters to clarify the pronunciation of the name, as many pronounced it "spats." The second "a" was added, as it was in the European branch of his family, to draw out the sound like "ah", like the "a" in "father." (The name is thus correctly pronounced in American English identically to "spots.") The result was intended to suggest a Dutch rather than a German origin. Although he was of German ancestry.
Spaatz received his nickname "Tooey" at West Point because of his resemblance to another red-headed cadet named F.J. Toohey. He graduated as a second lieutenant of Infantry 12 June 1914, ranked 97th out of a class of 107. He served with the 25th Infantry at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, until his assignment to the Signal Corps Aviation School at San Diego, California, between 13 October 1915 and 15 May 1916, for pilot training. He was detailed to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps in Mexico on 8 June 1916 after earning his Junior Military Aviator rating.
Spaatz served in the First Aero Squadron which was attached to General John J. Pershing during the Punitive Expedition. Spaatz was promoted to First Lieutenant on 1 July 1916 and to Captain on 15 May 1917.
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