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Frederic
E. Glantzberg was born on December 10, 1903 at Springfield, Mass.
He received his high school education at DeWitt Clinton High School in
New York. While an engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, he was cadet captain in the ROTC.
Upon graduation in 1927 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical
Engineering, he was awarded a reserve commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps. 2nd
Lieutenant Glantzberg reported to Brooks Field, Texas for flying training.
He graduated as a pilot and as an observer from Kelly Field advanced
school on June 25, 1928. Temporarily
shelving his military status, he took a job with the Ford Motor Company, flying
the company’s huge transports from Detroit to Chicago and Detroit to Buffalo
on the Model Airway. On
February 21, 1929 he was commissioned as second lieutenant in the regular army and
joined the 9th Observation Group at Mitchell Field, Long Island,
N.Y., and then in November of 1929, he was transferred to the Air Materiel
Command at Wright Field, Ohio. There
he was assigned as research engineer, Equipment Branch.
While at Wright, he married, on April 5, 1930, Miss Claire Jackson whom
he had met during his flight training at San Antonio, Texas. The
Philippines was the his next assignment. In December of 1931 he reported to Nichols Field where he
served briefly with the 2nd Observation Squadron; later as assistant engineering
officer, Philippine Air Depot and, at the time of his reassignment to Langley
Field, Va., in late 1934, he was engineering officer for the 28th Bomb Group.
After
leaving Langley Field, Captain Glantzberg had three assignments specializing in
Latin American affairs. In June 1939, he was assigned as technical adviser to the
Colombian Air Force, stationed at Bogota, Colombia. He remained there until October 1941 when he was transferred
to Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, 6th
Air Force. In
March of 1942 Major Glantzberg was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Army Air
Corps, Washington, for duty with the Plans Division.
He also wore a second hat as air member of the Joint Mexican-United
States Defense Commission.
In
October 1944, the general was recalled to Washington to serve as deputy director
of the Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Theodore Von Karmen was chairman of the
board. Colonel Glantzberg was
awarded the Legion of Merit by General H. H. Arnold for a long-range blueprint of
the Air Force, which outlined and laid the foundation for the modern weapons and
aircraft now coming into the Air Force inventory. In
October 1945, Colonel Glantzberg was one of the first officers assigned to the
Air University at Maxwell Field, Ala. He
participated in the organization of the Air Command and Staff School and later
served as one of the instructors. He
attended the Air War College before returning to Washington to again serve for
eight months as deputy director of the Scientific Advisory Board with the
additional duty of assisting in organizing the Human Resources Division in the
Directorate of Research and Development. With
school and staff assignments behind him, Brigadier General Glantzberg returned
to his first love, command of and active participation in the flying activities
of combat organizations. On 4 April
1949 he took command of the 2nd Bombardment Group and Wing at Chatham Field,
Ga., and converted it into Hunter Air Force Base, Ga. During
1952, Brigadier General Glantzberg commanded the Air Task Group at the Atomic
Energy Proving Grounds, Eniwetok. On 6 January 1953, Major General Glantzberg assumed command of
the 4th Air Division at Barksdale, La., which was then converting from B-29s to
B-47s. From 1954 to 1956 he
commanded the U.S. Air Force in Europe's 17th Air Force with headquarters in
Rabat, Morocco. In
the summer of 1956, Major General Glantzberg and his family returned to
Washington where he spent eight months as chairman of the ad hoc committee on
single manager for airlift services before becoming vice commander of the
Military Air Transport Service in June 1957 and moving to Scott Air Force Base,
IL. In
September 1959, Major General Glantzberg retired from the United States Air
Force and moved to Savannah, Ga. General
Glantzberg died June 26, 1970 in Kerrville, TX.
He was buried on June
30, 1970 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Interests: Hobbies:
Gardening, woodworking Sports:
Golf, tennis, squash Habits:
An early riser - frequently plays a set of tennis before going to work. General
Glantzberg is still an eager pilot of some of the most advanced types of
aircraft, flies regularly all those available to the units in the field,
including the century series.
He has logged nearly 11,000 hours and is rated as a command pilot, and
aircraft observer. Opinions,
Tastes and Evaluations: Particularly
fond of Mexican food, but likes all good food.
Dresses conservatively, dark blues, grays and browns.
Enjoys a good mystery story; usually watches TV on Sunday evenings. Strong
believer in not asking the troops to do anything he wouldn't do himself.
As a result, has always flown whatever planes assigned to his command.
Favorite expressions: "You've
got to be quick." "Let's
not stand around on one foot." Demands
forthrightness.
He wants honest opinions.
Is an energetic, dynamic leader.
Is admired by the troops for his down-to-earth type approaches. Decorations
and Medals:
Unusual
Experiences: 1.
While
leading the 15 Air Force on a bombing run to Ploesti, the #4 engine was hit by
flak. It
set the engine on fire and blew a hole in the top of the right Tokyo tank.
#3 engine quit also. The
plane started down out of control.
Col. Glantzberg ordered bail out.
Suddenly the sideslip pulled the fire out of the engine and gas tank.
Col. Glantzberg got the plane under control at around 4,000 feet on #1
and #2 engines, and then asked for a crew count.
With all the crew intact we started toward Turkey. #3
engine was re-started. Everything was thrown over board to decrease the weight
of the plane and we finally arrived back at our home base 2 1/2 hours after the
rest of the Group. 2.
In
1932, a swinging antenna (22 pounds) from another aircraft flying overhead
struck Lt. Glantzberg.
His skull fractured, the army pilot slumped against the cowling,
unconscious. The
co-pilot in the seat behind, also struck senseless by the same deadly missile,
relinquished his grip on the controls.
The plane plummeted earthward.
At 500 feet, the pilot in the rear seat came to and bailed out.
Lt. Glantzberg, also regaining consciousness in the nick of time, pulled
the ship out of its dive and landed safely, then lapsed into unconsciousness
again, blood streaming from a hole in the right side of his head.
Army doctors had to remove four square inches of shattered skull in
treating the wound.
Refusing to have a plate put in to cover the hole, he had a hole in his
head for the rest of his life. |
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