Clarence L. Tinker

Americana ir force general

Major General Clarence Leonard Tinker (21 November 1887 – 7 June 1942) was a career United States Army officer, the highest ranking Native-American officer (as a member of the Osage Nation), and the first to reach that rank.

During World War II, he had been assigned as Commander of the Seventh Air Force in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses.

He flew to lead a force during the Battle of Midway in June 1942; his plane went out of control and was lost in the ocean.

He was the first U.S.Army general officer to be killed during a battle in World War II, and the second general or flag officer, after Rear Admiral Isaac C.

Kidd.Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is named in his honor.