Background
Lewis Hyde Brereton was born June 21, 1890 to parents William Denny Brereton and Helen Hyde Brereton in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Later, the family moved to to Annapolis, Maryland where his brother, William Brereton Jr. was attending the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). He attended St. John's College in Annapolis with the intention of enrolling in the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point but was unable to secure an appointment. In 1907, he enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) class of 1911 and graduated 58th in the class of 194. Due to being seasick and rejected for active duty, he submitted a letter of resignation effective the date of graduation and instead applied to the Army.
U.S. Army
On August 17, 1911 appointed in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-3132. On September 6, 1911 assigned to the 118th Company, Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) at Fort Monroe in Virgina. During 1912, assigned to the 17th Company CAC at Fort Washington, Maryland.
In September 1912 volunteered for service with the Signal Corps' Aeronautical Division at Rockwell Field in San Diego. Due to a lack of facilities, he underwent flight training at Curtiss Aeroplane Company in Hammondsport, New York during October 1912 then to Rockwell Field to complete his training and qualified as an aviator on March 27, 1913, the 10th Army aviator to earn his wings. He began training on floatplanes but suffered two crashes, the first as pilot on April 8, 1913 and second as a passenger on May 21, 1913. On July 3, 1913 he requested to be relieved of aviation duties and returned to Coast Artillery Corps and was assigned to the 115th Company at Fort Rosecrans. He married Helen Clason Willis on February 27, 1913 and the couple had two children.
During July 1916 promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and sent to the Philippines, assigned to 1st Company, 138th Company CAC at Fort Mills
on Corregidor. Two months later, requested to return to aviation, but was first transferred to the 17th Field Artillery Regiment. On January 17, 1917 assigned to the 2nd Aero Squadron on Corregidor. During March 1917 returns to the United States for duty in the Aviation Section Headquarters in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer in Washington, D.C.
World War I
During World War I, he enrolled in flying training a second time at Hazelhurst Field, Mineola, New York. On May 15, 1917 while in training promoted to the rank of Captain. For the remainder of the year, assigned to the Equipment Division at Aviation Section Headquarters under Col. Benjamin D. Foulois. In November 1917 when Foulois was promoted and sent to France to command the Air Service of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) he took most of his staff including Brereton.
became the commanding officer of the 12th Aero Squadron in France.
Interwar Period
He served in the Office of the Director of Air Service, as chief of the Operations Division, Training and Operations Group, Washington, D.C. Through the 1920s and 1930s, he served as commanding officer of the 2nd Bombardment Group, 88th Observation Squadron, 17th Bombardment Wing and 3rd Air Force.
Wartime History
At the start of the Pacific War,
he took command of the Far East Air Force (FEAF) in the Philippines.
By December 14, 1941 Brereton withdraws his remaining B-17's from Luzon to Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao.
On December 15, 1941 Brereton receives permission to withdraw his remaining B-17's southward to Darwin in the Northern Territory in Australia.
On December 23, 1941 the Far East Air Force (FEAF) comes under control of the newly-created U.S. Forces in Australia (USFIA) and the same day Brereton receives orders establishing his Headquarters in Darwin.
On December 24, 1941 during the night, Brereton departed the Philippines with his senior aide Major Norman J. Lewellyn as a passengers aboard a U.S. Navy (USN) PBY Catalina that flew south to Surabaya on Java landing on December 25, 1941.
On December 29, 1941 arrives at his new headquarters in Darwin.
On February 23, 1942 Brereton after issuing an order terminating Headquarters, 5th
Air Force and departs for India arriving two days later.
On March 5, 1942 Brereton becomes Commanding Officer (C.O.) of the 10th Air Force (10th AF) with only eight B-17s.
On April 2, 1942 at night Brereton took off from Asansol Airfield leading a formation of three B-17s on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping off Andaman Islands. They claim hits on 1 cruiser and
a transport; two B-17's are damaged by AA and fighters, but all return safely.
On June 26, 1942 relieved by Brigadier General Earl L Naiden as Commanding General 10th Air Force and departs departs for the Middle East with Brigadier General Elmer E Adler, Commanding General 10th Air Service Command, and several other key subordinates.
Next, became the commanding General of the 9th Air Force (9th AF) in Europe.
In 1946,
commanding General of the 1st Air Force (1st AF) and later served in the Office of the Secretary of War, Washington D.C.
On September 18, 1947 became part of the newly formed U.S. Air Force (USAF). On September 1, 1948 he retied with the rank of Lieutenant General, Secretary of the Air Force.
Memorials
On July 20, 1967 died of a heart attack at age 77 in Washington D.C. On July 24, 1967 buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in section 6 site 5717-G.
References
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Lewis H. Brereton (grave photos)
FindAGrave - Lewis Hyde Brereton (photos, grave photos)
