If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Bay City, Michigan
Last Address Washington, DC
Date of Passing Sep 21, 1938
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
He was rated as a balloon observer, airship pilot, airplane pilot, and airplane observer. He was Chief of the Air Corps from Dec 22, 1935 until he was killed in an airplane accident near the Lockheed plant at Burbank, CA., when his plane burst into flames on landing.
The former Westover AFB (now ARB), MA was named for him.
His ADSM citation: Awarded for actions during World War I
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Service) Oscar Westover, United States Army Air Service, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. Lieutenant Colonel Westover served in turn as Signal Officer, Port of Embarkation, Hoboken, New Jersey, Chief of Storage Department, Signal Corps, and Chief of Storage and Traffic Division, Bureau of Aeronautical Production, Air Service. By his great initiative, painstaking attention to details, exceptional ability, and untiring efforts he installed and developed with conspicuous success at all ports of embarkation a complete system of keeping records of shipment of Signal Corps and Air Service property for overseas. His services were of inestimable value to the Government in a position of great responsibility.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 14 (1923)
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: two (pilot and gunner) * Length: 32 ft (9.8 m) * Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.6 m) * Height: 11 feet 10 1/2 inches (3.61 m) * Empty weight: 4,874 lb (2,210 Kg) * Loaded weight: 7,447 lb (3,377 Kg) * Max takeoff weight: 2,420 lb (1,100 kg) * Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1535-13 Twin Wasp Jr double row radial air-cooled engine, 750 hp (560 kW)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 206 mph (332 km/h) * Cruise speed: 170 mph (274 km/h) * Range: 700 miles (1,127 km) * Service ceiling 19,400 ft (5,900 m)
Armament
* Four 0.3 in. fixed forward machine guns * One 0.3 in trainable rear machine gun * Internal bay for bombs * External wing bomb racks (total bomb load 544 kg (1200 lb)
