21 Sep 1938

1938: Maj Gen Oscar Westover, the Chief of the Army Air Corps, died when his Northrop A-17A crashed at Lockheed Airport, Burbank. His passenger, crew chief SSgt Samuel Hymes, also died. Westover was succeeded by the Assistant Chief of the Air Corps, Brigadier General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold on 29 September.
Westover began his service as a private in 1901 before being appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated from there in 1906, ranked 43rd in his class, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 14th Infantry.
On December 22, 1935, he had succeeded Benjamin Foulois as Chief of the Air Corps with the accompanying promotion to major general.  (USAF Image)