310TH SPACE WING (AFRC) (310 SW) - Schriever Air Force Base

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Master of Space
General Bernard A. Schriever
A technological visionary...
A pioneer in the research and development of new ballistic missile and space programs...
A dynamic, innovative leader and valued advisor...
Th e architect of the Air Force’s ballistic missile and
military space program, Bernard Adolph Schriever was born
in Bremen, Germany, in 1910 and migrated to the United
States with his parents in 1917. His family settled in the
German-American community of New Braunfels, Texas. He
became a naturalized citizen in 1923, attended grade and
high school in San Antonio and graduated from Texas A&M
University in 1931 with a Bachelor of Science. He was
commissioned in fi eld artillery, but in July 1932 began fl ight
training at Randolph Field and earned his pilot wings and
commission in the Air Corps in June 1933 at Kelly Field. He
was then assigned as a bomber pilot at March and Hamilton
Fields, Calif.
In 1934, Schriever fl ew Army Air Corps airmail missions
during the bitter cold of winter. Many of his comrades
crashed to their deaths piloting the antiquated and poorly
equipped planes provided. Th is experience underscored
for him the consequences of technological inferiority and
demonstrated the need to modernize and build up air power
if the United States hoped to compete with other air forces
internationally.
During the Great Depression, Schriever learned leadership
while commanding a Civilian Conservation Corps unit in
New Mexico providing shelter, sustenance and guidance to
unemployed young men.
In September 1937, he went to Panama for duty at Albrook
Field and then briefl y left the Air Corps to fl y as a pilot with
Northwest Airlines. He returned to duty in October 1938
with the 7th Bomb Group at Hamilton, Calif., and a year
later became a test pilot at Wright Field, Ohio, where he also
attended the Air Corps Engineering School, graduating in
July 1941. He then earned a master’s degree in aeronautical
engineering from Stanford University.
Just as the United States entered World War II, he earned
his commission in the Army. In July 1942, Schriever served
in the Southwest Pacifi c with the 19th Bomb Group (5th Air
Force) for combat.
As a B-17, B-25 and C-47 pilot, he fl ew 38 combat
missions, participating in the Bismarck Archipelago, Leyte,
Luzon, Papua, North Solomon, South Philippine and
Ryukyu campaigns.
His superiors quickly recognized Schriever’s technical skills
and steadily promoted him in rank from captain to colonel,
and in position from Chief of Maintenance and Engineering
to Chief of Staff , 5th Air Force Service Command in January
1943. By September 1944, he commanded the Advanced
Headquarters, Far East Air Service Command, which
supported theater operations from bases in Holland, New
Guinea, Philippines and Japan.
In January 1946, Schriever was assigned to the Pentagon
to head the Scientifi c Liaison Offi ce, under the Deputy Chief
of Staff for Materiel. Although young in years, Schriever
had drawn the attention of senior offi cers, especially the
commander, General Henry H. “Hap” Arnold. Recognizing
his protégé’s rare combination of leadership attributes,
engineering training and combat experience, General Arnold
entrusted Schriever with the delicate job of maintaining close
ties forged during the war between the Air Force and leading
scientists.
Schriever’s offi ce introduced development planning
objectives, an invaluable series of planning documents that
matched long-range military requirements with ongoing
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