This is a list of United States Armed Forces general officers and flag officers who were killed in World War II. The dates of death listed are from the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 to the surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945, when the United States was officially involved in World War II. Included are generals and admirals who were killed by friendly or hostile fire, suicide, or accidents (usually airplane crashes). General and flag officers who died of illness or natural causes are not included. The rank listed was at the time of their death.
In 1954, the United States Congress passed Public Law 83-508, which promoted lieutenant generals who had commanded an army or Army Ground Forces during World War II to the rank of general. When it took effect on 19 July 1954, Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. and Lesley J. McNair were posthumously promoted.[1][2][3] One officer was posthumously promoted to general officer rank during the war: Colonel William O. Darby, whose nomination for promotion to the rank of brigadier general had already been approved by Congress and submitted to President Harry S. Truman for approval at the time of his death.[4][5] On the other hand, Douglas B. Netherwood was promoted to brigadier general in October 1940, but reverted to the rank of colonel on 25 December 1941. He died in an air crash on 19 August 1943.[6]
- ^ Ancell & Miller 1996, p. 39.
- ^ Ancell & Miller 1996, p. 219.
- ^ "Public Law 83-508". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Cagley, Thomas R. (26 January 2019). "A List of American Commanders in WWII Who Lost Their Lives". Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ Bush, Robert S. (7 August 2014). "General and Flag Officers Killed in War". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
- ^ Ancell & Miller 1996, p. 428.