359:
42:
260:, the eldest son of George Edward Tinker and Sarah A. (Schwagerte) Tinker. He was raised as an Osage and learned the language and culture from his parents and extended family. His maternal grandmother was half-Osage; both her parents were mixed-race Osage. They had Osage mothers, and fathers who were French traders from Canada.
575:
332:
In 1919, Tinker began flying lessons. One of his assignments after the war was with the ROTC at
Riverside High School in California. When his father came to visit him at the school, they began a conversation in Osage in public. Using his native language was one way that Tinker expressed his identity
374:
in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses of the islands. He believed that the Air Force was going to be critical to the entire war, and that Japan would eventually be defeated through a long-strike effort by air. In
January 1942, he was promoted to major general, the first Native American in U.S.
394:
against the retreating
Japanese naval forces. Near Midway Island, his plane was seen to go out of control and plunge into the sea. Tinker and ten other crewmen perished. The plane and bodies were never recovered. Tinker's son was also lost at sea while in a dogfight with German planes in 1944.
430:
A bust of the general is outside the Air Force
Sustainment Center headquarters at Tinker. Several paintings of him, and a display of his awards and medals are in the Tinker Club. His personal papers and original decorations were donated to the base by his widow, Madeline Tinker
445:
celebration. The veterans' songs celebrate the pride men took in their military service. A tribute song was written especially for Tinker, and men dance and sing to it. His is the only family song for which all the people
1052:
271:, public school. Tinker and his friends learned about and idolized the 19th-century Osage Indian scouts who served with the U.S. cavalry, and Bonnycastle, the Osage chief who, according to Dr. James Crowder in his book,
229:
1042:
1057:
623:
992:
1037:
1062:
341:
616:
1032:
484:
1017:
609:
355:, Texas. Tinker commanded various pursuit and bomber units during the 1930s. He was steadily promoted, and on October 1, 1940, became a brigadier general.
1022:
1012:
1007:
413:
196:
340:. On July 1, 1922, he was assigned to flight duty. For a time, Tinker served as the air attache to the U.S. embassy in London. He studied at the
1047:
1002:
759:
209:(21 November 1887 – 7 June 1942) was a career United States Army officer, the highest ranking Native-American officer (as a member of the
287:
337:
321:
infantry in March 1912. After infantry training, Tinker joined the Twenty-fifth
Infantry Regiment at Fort George Wright in
325:. In 1913, his unit was transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. There he met and married Madeline Doyle, a native of
135:
117:
286:. It was founded by his father and was one of Pawhuska's first weekly newspapers. Beginning in 1900, Tinker attended the
809:
949:
899:
298:
1027:
466:
391:
329:. During World War I, Tinker served in the southwestern United States and California, and was promoted to major.
844:
839:
679:
306:
241:
435:
153:
997:
739:
709:
704:
664:
424:
420:
237:
149:
987:
982:
954:
934:
819:
345:
326:
929:
874:
729:
322:
305:. He graduated 19th out of 34 in the Class of 1908, and was commissioned a third lieutenant in the
302:
596:
588:
506:
814:
764:
749:
694:
537:
James L. Crowder, Jr., "Osage
Aviator: The Life and Career of Major General Clarence L. Tinker,"
253:
145:
633:
409:
192:
924:
919:
909:
904:
889:
859:
849:
799:
371:
218:
157:
601:
879:
864:
789:
719:
699:
689:
580:
383:
291:
264:
225:
176:
172:
65:
358:
869:
824:
784:
724:
669:
649:
522:
276:
404:
Clarence L. Tinker was the first
American general killed in World War II. (Rear Admiral
894:
884:
794:
674:
17:
976:
944:
405:
379:
268:
233:
86:
854:
829:
779:
769:
714:
654:
367:
282:
While growing up, Clarence worked in the print shop of his father's newspaper, the
257:
214:
210:
167:
41:
834:
804:
754:
684:
644:
352:
230:
the first U.S. Army general officer to be killed during a battle in World War II
485:
Randy
Roughton, AF Heritage: "Gen. Tinker still honored by native Indian tribe"
774:
659:
570:
351:
In 1927, he was named
Commandant of the Air Service Advanced Flying School at
228:
in June 1942; his plane went out of control and was lost in the ocean. He was
939:
318:
744:
734:
408:, USN, was killed at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941). He received the
548:(: Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker Air Force Base, 1987).
441:
The Osage honor Tinker and other veterans annually at their 4-day
357:
387:
263:
Tinker received his elementary education in
Catholic schools at
605:
1053:
United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II
487:, Air Force News Agency, 29 August 2013, accessed 3 April 2014
232:, and the second general or flag officer, after Rear Admiral
419:
On October 14, 1942, the Oklahoma City Air Depot was named
513:, Oklahoma Historical Society. Accessed February 17, 2016.
1043:
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
1058:
United States Army Air Forces generals of World War II
317:
Tinker received his commission as a lieutenant in the
252:
Clarence Tinker was born on November 21, 1887, near
188:
163:
141:
131:
123:
111:
103:
93:
71:
51:
32:
558:John Woolery, "Major General Clarence L. Tinker,"
378:In June 1942, the Japanese began their assault of
993:Native American United States military personnel
546:Osage General: Major General Clarence L. Tinker
386:, on June 7, Tinker decided to lead a force of
1038:Wentworth Military Academy and College alumni
617:
501:
499:
497:
495:
493:
8:
591:Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
511:Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
213:), and the first to reach that rank. During
1063:American people in the American Philippines
273:Osage General: Maj. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker
217:, he had been assigned as Commander of the
624:
610:
602:
462:
460:
221:in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses.
40:
29:
412:in 1931 and was posthumously awarded the
589:"Tinker, Clarence Leonard (1887–1942),"
555:Kansas City: Spencer Printing Co., 1950.
297:In the fall of 1906, Tinker enrolled at
456:
1033:United States Army Air Forces generals
507:"Tinker, Clarence Leonard (1887–1942)"
46:Clarence L. Tinker as a Major General
7:
480:
478:
476:
474:
370:, Tinker was named Commander of the
434:A K-8 school is named after him at
267:and Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and at the
224:He flew to lead a force during the
467:"Major General Clarence L. Tinker"
375:Army history to attain that rank.
294:, but withdrew before graduating.
25:
1018:Recipients of the Soldier's Medal
423:in his honor. It is now known as
1023:Air Corps Tactical School alumni
1013:Military personnel from Oklahoma
573:
965:Names are in alphabetical order
336:In 1922, he transferred to the
1008:People from Pawhuska, Oklahoma
342:Army Command and Staff College
290:, the famous Indian school in
1:
366:After the Japanese attack on
118:United States Army Air Forces
1048:People from Hominy, Oklahoma
1003:People from Indian Territory
810:Charles Andrew MacGillivary
414:Distinguished Service Medal
275:.", helped to suppress the
197:Distinguished Service Medal
1079:
950:Samuel Tankersley Williams
900:Joseph Warren Stilwell Jr.
560:The Chronicles of Oklahoma
539:The Chronicles of Oklahoma
362:Clarence L. Tinker c. 1920
299:Wentworth Military Academy
27:US Army Air Forces general
963:
640:
392:31st Bombardment Squadron
244:, is named in his honor.
39:
845:Thomas Alexander Parrott
680:William Francis Buckley
553:The Story of Wentworth,
544:James L. Crowder, Jr.,
307:Philippine Constabulary
242:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
207:Clarence Leonard Tinker
18:Clarence Leonard Tinker
436:MacDill Air Force Base
382:. In the midst of the
363:
309:, serving until 1912.
154:27th Bombardment Group
740:Edith Ellen Greenwood
705:Theodore Leslie Futch
665:James Leroy Bondsteel
523:Pacific Wrecks report
425:Tinker Air Force Base
361:
344:in the same class as
238:Tinker Air Force Base
150:7th Bombardment Group
124:Years of service
955:Walter K. Wilson Jr.
820:Charles J. McDonnell
541:65 (Winter 1987–88).
346:Dwight D. Eisenhower
327:Halifax, Nova Scotia
930:Leon L. Van Autreve
875:Stephen Silvasy Jr.
730:David E. Grange Jr.
551:Raymond W. Settle,
323:Spokane, Washington
303:Lexington, Missouri
915:Clarence L. Tinker
840:José Antonio Muñiz
815:William A. Matheny
765:Patrick J. Hessian
750:William W. Hartzog
695:John Thomas Corley
632:Recipients of the
364:
254:Pawhuska, Oklahoma
146:17th Pursuit Group
34:Clarence L. Tinker
970:
969:
925:Alfred Valenzuela
920:Jack L. Treadwell
910:Hugh Thompson Jr.
905:Thomas Tackaberry
890:Christopher Speer
860:Edwin W. Rawlings
850:Frank D. Peregory
800:Richard L. Lawson
372:Seventh Air Force
288:Haskell Institute
277:"Boxer" rebellion
219:Seventh Air Force
202:
201:
158:Seventh Air Force
55:November 21, 1887
16:(Redirected from
1070:
1028:Battle of Midway
880:John K. Singlaub
865:Richard Scholtes
790:Melbourne Kimsey
720:Hershel W. Gober
700:Wayne A. Downing
690:Lawrence Colburn
626:
619:
612:
603:
583:
581:Biography portal
578:
577:
576:
525:
520:
514:
503:
488:
482:
469:
464:
384:Battle of Midway
338:Army Air Service
292:Lawrence, Kansas
284:Wah-Sha-She News
226:Battle of Midway
181:
173:Battle of Midway
113:
82:
80:
66:Indian Territory
62:
60:
44:
30:
21:
1078:
1077:
1073:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1068:
1067:
973:
972:
971:
966:
959:
870:Preston Schoyer
825:Jack N. Merritt
785:Otto Kerner Jr.
760:Anthony Herbert
725:John F. Goodman
670:Leonard Boswell
650:Glenn Andreotta
636:
634:Soldier's Medal
630:
579:
574:
572:
569:
562:27 (Fall 1949).
534:
532:Further reading
529:
528:
521:
517:
504:
491:
483:
472:
465:
458:
453:
410:Soldier's Medal
401:
315:
250:
204:
195:
193:Soldier's Medal
177:
156:
152:
148:
127:1912–1942
99:
84:
78:
76:
64:near Pawhuska,
63:
58:
56:
47:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1076:
1074:
1066:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1045:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
975:
974:
968:
967:
964:
961:
960:
958:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
932:
927:
922:
917:
912:
907:
902:
897:
895:Donn A. Starry
892:
887:
885:Alek Skarlatos
882:
877:
872:
867:
862:
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
802:
797:
795:Darwin K. Kyle
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
767:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
737:
732:
727:
722:
717:
712:
707:
702:
697:
692:
687:
682:
677:
675:Allison Brooks
672:
667:
662:
657:
652:
647:
641:
638:
637:
631:
629:
628:
621:
614:
606:
600:
599:
594:
585:
584:
568:
567:External links
565:
564:
563:
556:
549:
542:
533:
530:
527:
526:
515:
489:
470:
455:
454:
452:
449:
448:
447:
439:
432:
428:
417:
400:
397:
314:
311:
249:
246:
205:Major General
200:
199:
190:
186:
185:
184:
183:
165:
161:
160:
143:
139:
138:
133:
129:
128:
125:
121:
120:
115:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
97:
95:
91:
90:
83:(aged 54)
73:
69:
68:
53:
49:
48:
45:
37:
36:
33:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1075:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1014:
1011:
1009:
1006:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
980:
978:
962:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
945:Brad Wenstrup
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
926:
923:
921:
918:
916:
913:
911:
908:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
731:
728:
726:
723:
721:
718:
716:
713:
711:
708:
706:
703:
701:
698:
696:
693:
691:
688:
686:
683:
681:
678:
676:
673:
671:
668:
666:
663:
661:
658:
656:
653:
651:
648:
646:
643:
642:
639:
635:
627:
622:
620:
615:
613:
608:
607:
604:
598:
595:
593:
592:
587:
586:
582:
571:
566:
561:
557:
554:
550:
547:
543:
540:
536:
535:
531:
524:
519:
516:
512:
508:
502:
500:
498:
496:
494:
490:
486:
481:
479:
477:
475:
471:
468:
463:
461:
457:
450:
444:
440:
437:
433:
429:
426:
422:
418:
415:
411:
407:
406:Issac C. Kidd
403:
402:
398:
396:
393:
389:
385:
381:
380:Midway Island
376:
373:
369:
360:
356:
354:
349:
347:
343:
339:
334:
330:
328:
324:
320:
312:
310:
308:
304:
300:
295:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
274:
270:
269:Elgin, Kansas
266:
261:
259:
255:
247:
245:
243:
239:
235:
234:Isaac C. Kidd
231:
227:
222:
220:
216:
212:
208:
198:
194:
191:
187:
182:
180:
174:
171:
170:
169:
166:
162:
159:
155:
151:
147:
144:
140:
137:
136:Major General
134:
130:
126:
122:
119:
116:
110:
107:United States
106:
102:
96:
92:
88:
87:Midway Island
74:
70:
67:
54:
50:
43:
38:
31:
19:
998:Osage people
914:
855:Colin Powell
830:Leo J. Meyer
780:Eli D. Hoyle
770:Don Holleder
715:Elmer Gedeon
655:Clift Andrus
590:
559:
552:
545:
538:
518:
510:
505:May, Jon D.
442:
421:Tinker Field
377:
368:Pearl Harbor
365:
350:
335:
331:
316:
296:
283:
281:
272:
262:
258:Osage Nation
251:
223:
215:World War II
211:Osage Nation
206:
203:
178:
168:World War II
164:Battles/wars
75:June 7, 1942
988:1942 deaths
983:1887 births
835:Henry Mucci
805:Reis Leming
755:Mike Hayden
710:John Galvin
685:Max Cleland
645:Marty Allen
597:Generals.dk
443:In-lon-shka
353:Kelly Field
313:Army career
98:Died at sea
977:Categories
935:David Wade
775:Bob Hoover
660:Aaron Bank
451:References
431:McCormick.
333:as Osage.
279:in China.
248:Early life
104:Allegiance
79:1942-06-08
59:1887-11-21
940:Ron Welch
319:U.S. Army
256:, in the
745:Bo Gritz
735:Ed Grady
142:Commands
112:Service/
390:of the
179:†
77: (
57: (
446:stand.
399:Legacy
388:LB-30s
265:Hominy
189:Awards
175:
114:branch
94:Buried
89:, U.S.
85:Near
132:Rank
72:Died
52:Born
301:in
240:in
979::
509:,
492:^
473:^
459:^
348:.
236:.
625:e
618:t
611:v
438:.
427:.
416:.
81:)
61:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
