Thomas Herbert Chapman
Major General, U.S. Air Force

Thomas Herbert Chapman was born on 27 August 1895 in Muskegon, MI. He graduated from high school in Detroit in 1912 and attended the University of Michigan for a year. He then became a service representative for the Studebaker Corporation.

Chapman enlisted in the Quartermaster Corps Reserve on 11 June 1917 and was assigned to active duty. On 8 August 1918, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned to Jacksonville, FL. In July 1918 he was transferred to the Motor Transportation Corps Reserve with station at Camp Humphreys, VA. He received his regular commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps on 1 July 1920 and was promoted immediately to First Lieutenant.

In 1921, Chapman began flying training and after graduation from flying school and bombardment school, was transferred to the Air Service on 19 June 1922. He then served three years as a Flying Instructor. In 192, he became Engineering Officer at the San Antonio Depot in Texas. From 1928-30, he was an Engineering Officer for the Philippine Air Depot, after which he returned to the San Antonio Depot.

Chapman graduated from the Air Service Tactical School in 1935 and was assigned to the Materiel Command at Wright Field, OH, as Chief of Procurement Inspection. In 1942, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assumed command of a heavy bomb group of the Second Air Force at Spokane, WA. In October 1942, he became Executive Officer of the Second Air Force. He was named Tactical Operations and Plans Officer of the Second Air Force in May 1943. The following August he assumed command of the 73rd Bomb Wing at Salina, KS, and in April 1944 became Deputy Commander of the San Antonio Air Service Command at Kelly Field, TX. In August 1944, he assumed command of the Warner Robins Air Service Command at Robins Field, GA.

In August 1945, Chapman was assigned to the Far East Air Forces, and a month later assumed command of the Fifth Air Force Service Command in Japan. In January 1946 he was promoted to Major General and became Commander of the Seventh Air Service Area Command in Japan. In July 1946 he went on detached service as Commander of the Japan Air Materiel Area, and in January 1947 assumed command of the Air Depot at Hickam Field, HI. A year later he became Chief of the Los Angeles Procurement Field Office, in California.

Chapman was appointed Chief of the Maintenance Division, Directorate of Supply and Maintenance, Air Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, in October 1950. He assumed command of Warner Robins Air Materiel Area at Robins AFB, GA, in June 1952.

During his military career, Chapman was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer and Aircraft Observer. He was also awarded the Legion of Merit.

Death and Burial

Major General Thomas Herbert Chapman died on 7 June 1969 in Boerne, TX. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX.