Henry Conger Pratt

Who was Henry Conger Pratt?

Henry Conger Pratt, professionally known as H. Conger Pratt, was a Major General in the United States Army, most of whose career was spent as an officer and pilot in the Army antecedents of the United States Air Force. In the 1930s he became one of the senior leaders of the Air Corps and was nearly chosen to become Chief of Air Corps in 1935. Pratt was the first member in its history to be appointed to the permanent establishment rank of brigadier general of the line.

In 1938, after becoming a general officer, he served in non-aviation command billets including ground forces commands. During the World War II Pratt did not serve as a general in the Army Air Forces but as commander of service and defense commands in the Western Hemisphere. He was carried on the retired list of the United States Air Force as a major general after the creation of that service in 1947.

Pratt was appointed an Assistant Chief of Air Corps in 1930, chosen as one of the wing commanders of the General Headquarters Air Force in 1935, and served as commandant of the Air Corps Tactical School in 1938. During the pre-war years 1935-1940, Pratt commanded both an air force wing and an army division.