Henry Clagett was born Dec. 19, 1884 in Fort Wayne, MI. He attended the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, NY and graduated with a B.S. degree in 1906. He learned to fly during 1917-18 at Kelly Field, TX. He was promoted to 1st Lt. in 1911, Captain in 1916 and Major in 1920. He held Transport Pilot license #1929. Below, courtesy of the San Diego Aerospace Museum Flickr Stream (SDAM), is an undated photograph of Claggett early in his career.

Henry B. Clagett, Date & Location Unknown (Source: SDAM)

The SDAM did not identify the event or the reason for the congratulations of Clagett.

Henry Black Clagett, March 5, 1936 (Source: Beckstead)

According to his grandson, Clagett was the four-year roommate of General Jonathan Wainwright at USMA; they are buried next to each other at Arlington. He was sent in 1907 to the Philippines to fight rebels. He was an aide to presidents Taft and Wilson, as well as a supporter and friend of Gen. Billy Mitchell. During 1916 he was with Gen. Pershing fighting the Mexican Border war.

Pilot Clagett landed at Tucson once, on Thursday, July 12, 1928. At this time, he was a Major and assigned as Air Officer of the 9th Corps Area, with headquarters at the Presidio of San Francisco, CA. He carried George Sykes as his sole passenger. They were flying an unidentified Douglas O-2H eastbound, arriving from San Diego, CA en route to El Paso, TX. They remained on the ground 15 minutes, departing east at 3:45 PM, which, at that time of year, would get them to El Paso before dark.

In 1930 he was promoted to Lt. Colonel and assigned as commandant of the Air Corps Prumary and Advanced Flying Schools, Brooks and Kelly Fields from 1931-35. In 1935 he was promoted to Colonel and to Brigadier General. He oscillated back and forth between Colonel and Brigadier between 1936 and 1940.

New York Times, May 18, 1941 (Source: NASM)

He was assigned October 25, 1940 to the 6th Pursuit Wing, Selfridge Field, MI. On March 15, 1941, he was assigned to the Philippine Department effective April 8, 1941. The article from the New York Times of May 18th, left, finds him in that role. In November, he was named commander of the Philippines pursuit interceptor force.

With the coming of WWII, Clagett was assigned as the Acting Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces in Australia, Brisbane. In 1942, he was assigned as Commanding General of the U.S. Army supply base at Townsville, Australia. He received that assignment from fellow Register pilot George Brett.

In 1943 he returned to the U.S. and assumed the role of Commanding General of Sheppard Field, Texas.

Clagett retired from the military December 1, 1944 due to a disability acquired in the line of duty.   None of the records I examined gave any details about his disability. He died Nov. 14, 1952.

Dossier 2.2.55

THIS PAGE UPLOADED: 05/08/10 REVISED: 12/04/13, 11/26/14