SPAATZ, CARL

born June 28, 1891, Boyertown, Pa., U.S. died July 14, 1974, Washington, D.C. byname Tooey Spaatz the leading U.S. combat air commander in World War II and first chief of staff of the independent U.S. Air Force. A graduate (1914) of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., Spaatz served as a combat pilot during World War I and then acquired extensive staff and command experience between 1919 and 1942. He went to England in 1940 to evaluate German military power, and, after the United States' entry into the war, in July 1942 he took command of the 8th Air Force in England. Spaatz initiated the U.S. daylight bombing offensive against German-occupied Europe in 1942. In January 1944 he became commander of the U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe and directed the daylight strategic bombing of Germany from both England and Italy until the end of the war in Europe. Spaatz moved to the Pacific theatre in July 1945, and, though personally opposed to the use of atomic bombs against Japanese cities, he directed the final strategic bombing of Japan that included, under orders of Pres. Harry S. Truman, the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He became chief of staff of the newly independent U.S. Air Force (September 1947), but, not enjoying the administrative work, he retired in 1948.