Laurence S. Kuter
| Laurence Sherman Kuter | |
|---|---|
General Laurence Sherman Kuter
|
|
| Born | May 28, 1905 Rockford, Illinois |
| Died | November 30, 1979 (aged 74) Naples, Florida |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1927-1962 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held | Military Air Transport Service Air University Far East Air Forces Pacific Air Forces |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (3) |
General Laurence Sherman Kuter (May 28, 1905 – November 30, 1979) was a Cold War-era U.S. Air Force general and former commander of the North American Air Defence Command (NORAD). Kuter (pronounced COO-ter) was born in Rockford in 1905, and graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York on June 14, 1927.
Second Lieutenant Kuter was first assigned to Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, Presidio of Monterey, California. He was formally assigned all battery officer duties except command. In May 1929 he was accepted for flying training, graduating from flying schools at Brooks and Kelly Fields, Texas, as a bombardment pilot in June 1930.
He was then assigned as operations officer, 49th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group, Langley Field, Virginia. One month later Lieutenant Kuter was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps. During his assignment at Langley, Lieutenant Kuter placed second in the annual bombing competition of the Army Air Corps.
In August 1933 Lieutenant Kuter moved up as operations officer, 2nd Bombardment Wing, and assistant base operations officer at Langley. During this period he flew alternate wing position with Captain Claire L. Chennault's acrobatic group, "The Men on the Flying Trapeze." This was the first recognized aerial acrobatic team in the military service.
He then was given a leading role in the operational development of the Boeing Y1B-9 twin engine bombers which pioneered high altitude bombing techniques and tactics in the U.S. Air Force.
From February to June 1934, Lieutenant Kuter served as operations officer of the Eastern Zone Army Corps Mail operations. He was the last officer relieved from this duty being held over to write the final report and history. At the conclusion of this assignment he was selected for the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama. He graduated at the top of his class in the spring of 1935 and was retained at the school as instructor in bombardment aviation and in the employment of air power.
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