Harry George Armstrong

Harry George Armstrong (February 17, 1899 – February 5, 1983) was a major general in the United States Air Force, a physician, and an airman. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of aviation medicine. The Armstrong limit, the altitude above which water boils at the temperature of the human body, is named after him.

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2023)

Quick facts Born, Died ...

Harry George Armstrong
Major General Harry George Armstrong
Born	February 17, 1899 (1899-02-17)^[1] De Smet, South Dakota
Died	February 5, 1983 (1983-02-06) (aged 83)
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1918–1919 (Marine Corps) 1925–1957 (Army/Air Force)
Rank	Major general
Commands	Surgeon General of the Air Force
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2) Order of the British Empire Croix de Guerre Collier Award

Armstrong served in the Marines during World War I and the army and air force from 1930 to 1957.^[2] As director of the United States Aeromedical Research Laboratory, he applied his medical and aviation knowledge to the improvement of aircrew protection from temperature extremes and the lack of oxygen at high altitude.

Early life, education, and military career

Armstrong was born in De Smet, South Dakota, in 1899. He attended the University of Minnesota, but left after one year to enlist in the US Marine Corps, serving with them as a private from October 1918 to March 1919. He then entered the University of South Dakota, graduating in 1921. In 1925 he received his Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Louisville. He entered the Medical Corps Reserve in April 1925. Armstrong entered the School of Aviation Medicine at Brooks Field, Texas, that September. Upon graduation in 1930, he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Regular Army Medical Corps.

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Military career

In 1931, he was attached to the Air Corps and assigned as assistant surgeon. He was promoted to captain in 1932, to major in 1938, lieutenant colonel (temporary) in February 1942, and to colonel (temporary) in August 1942. Serving alternately in England and the United States, in 1945 he became surgeon for the Air Division in the office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.), with headquarters in Berlin. In 1946, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel (permanent), returned to the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Field upon appointment as assistant commandant, and that July was named commandant. In 1948, he was promoted brigadier general (temporary), then to major general (temporary).

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Surgeon General of the Air Force

In June 1949, he was assigned to air force headquarters at Washington, D.C., as Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force, promoted to colonel (permanent) in October, and the following December was designated surgeon general. Armstrong was promoted to brigadier general (permanent) October 9, 1951. In 1954, General Armstrong went to Wiesbaden, Germany, as Surgeon of the United States Air Forces in Europe.

USAAF Flight Surgeon wings
1st row	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal	Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster	World War I Victory Medal	American Defense Service Medal with Foreign Service Clasp
2nd row	American Campaign Medal	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal	World War II Victory Medal	Army of Occupation Medal
3rd row	National Defense Service Medal	French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with Palm	Order of the British Empire	Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940–1945 with Palm

Effective dates of promotion

Source: ^[1]^[2]

More information Insignia, Rank ...

Insignia	Rank	Date
	Major general	July 29, 1949
	Brigadier general	April 27, 1948
	Colonel	August 28, 1942
	Lieutenant colonel	February 1, 1942
	Major	July 15, 1938
	Captain	December 15, 1932
	First lieutenant	April 26, 1929
	Second lieutenant	Skipped this grade