General of the Air Force

The five-star rank of the US Air Force, OF-10, held in history by exactly one officer, Henry Arnold, in 1949.

Overview

General of the Air Force was created in 1949 for Henry Hap Arnold, who had commanded the Army Air Forces through World War Two as a General of the Army. When the Air Force became independent in 1947, Arnold received the new five-star grade in 1949, the only holder ever. The rank sits at OF-10, dormant since Arnold died in 1950, and Congress could revive it only for war-level command needs. The insignia is five stars. Arnold thus became the only officer to hold five-star rank in two services.