Vandenberg, Hoyt Sanford, born 24-01-1899 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
the son of William Collins Vandenberg, 1868 and Pearl, born Kane, 1874, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy 
12-06-1923, at which time he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Service. Hoyt completed the Air Service Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, in February 1924, and from the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in September 1924. His first assignment was with the Third Attack Group at Kelly Field, where he assumed command of the 90th Attack Squadron 
. In 1927, he became an instructor at the Air Corps Primary Flying School at March Field, California. He went to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in May 1929, to join the Sixth Pursuit Squadron 
and assumed command of it the following November. Returning in September 1931, he was appointed a flying instructor at Randolph Field, Texas, and became a flight commander and deputy stage commander there in March 1933. He entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1934, and graduated the following June. Two months later he enrolled in the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and completed the course in June 1936. He then became an instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, where he taught until September 1936, when he entered the Army War College. After graduating from the War College in June 1939, he was assigned to the Plans Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps. A few months after the United States entered World War II, he became operations and training officer of the Air Staff. For his services in these two positions he received the Distinguished Service Medal 
. In June 1943, he was assigned to the United Kingdom and assisted in the organization of the Air Forces in North Africa. While in Great Britain he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 12th Air Force 
, which he helped organize. On 18-02-1943, he became Chief of Staff of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force and with this air force he flew on numerous missions over Tunisia, Italy, Sardinia, Sicily and Pantelleria during the North African campaign. He here with, 4 stars General, Omar Bradley 
and Vice Admiral Louis Emil Denfeld 
was awarded both the Silver Star 
and the Distinguished Flying Cross 
for his services during this time. For his organizational ability with the 12th Air Force and his work as chief of staff of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. In August 1943, he was assigned to Air Corps headquarters as Deputy Chief of Air Staff. A month later he became head of an air mission to Russia, under Ambassador William
the son of William Collins Vandenberg, 1868 and Pearl, born Kane, 1874, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy 12-06-1923, at which time he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Service. Hoyt completed the Air Service Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, in February 1924, and from the Air Service Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in September 1924. His first assignment was with the Third Attack Group at Kelly Field, where he assumed command of the 90th Attack Squadron . In 1927, he became an instructor at the Air Corps Primary Flying School at March Field, California. He went to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in May 1929, to join the Sixth Pursuit Squadron and assumed command of it the following November. Returning in September 1931, he was appointed a flying instructor at Randolph Field, Texas, and became a flight commander and deputy stage commander there in March 1933. He entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in August 1934, and graduated the following June. Two months later he enrolled in the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and completed the course in June 1936. He then became an instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, where he taught until September 1936, when he entered the Army War College. After graduating from the War College in June 1939, he was assigned to the Plans Division in the Office of the Chief of Air Corps. A few months after the United States entered World War II, he became operations and training officer of the Air Staff. For his services in these two positions he received the Distinguished Service Medal . In June 1943, he was assigned to the United Kingdom and assisted in the organization of the Air Forces in North Africa. While in Great Britain he was appointed Chief of Staff of the 12th Air Force , which he helped organize. On 18-02-1943, he became Chief of Staff of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force and with this air force he flew on numerous missions over Tunisia, Italy, Sardinia, Sicily and Pantelleria during the North African campaign. He here with, 4 stars General, Omar Bradley and Vice Admiral Louis Emil Denfeld was awarded both the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his services during this time. For his organizational ability with the 12th Air Force and his work as chief of staff of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. In August 1943, he was assigned to Air Corps headquarters as Deputy Chief of Air Staff. A month later he became head of an air mission to Russia, under Ambassador WilliamAverell Harriman 
and returned to the United States in January 1944. 
Two months later he was transferred to the European theatre and in April 1944, was designated deputy air commander in chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and commander of its American Air Component. In August 1944, General Vandenberg assumed command of the Ninth Air Force 
. On 28-11-1944, he received an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal for his part in planning the Normandy invasion. He was appointed assistant chief of air staff at Air Corps headquarters in July 1945. The following January he became director of Intelligence on the War Department General Staff where he serviced until his appointment in June 1945, as director of Central Intelligence. On 30-04-1948, General Vandenberg became Chief of Staff of the Air Force, here being administered Oath of Office as Chief of Staff, 
succeeding General Carl Spaatz
and returned to the United States in January 1944. Two months later he was transferred to the European theatre and in April 1944, was designated deputy air commander in chief of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and commander of its American Air Component. In August 1944, General Vandenberg assumed command of the Ninth Air Force . On 28-11-1944, he received an oak leaf cluster to the Distinguished Service Medal for his part in planning the Normandy invasion. He was appointed assistant chief of air staff at Air Corps headquarters in July 1945. The following January he became director of Intelligence on the War Department General Staff where he serviced until his appointment in June 1945, as director of Central Intelligence. On 30-04-1948, General Vandenberg became Chief of Staff of the Air Force, here being administered Oath of Office as Chief of Staff, succeeding General Carl Spaatz
. He was renominated by President Harry Spencer Truman 
for a second term as Chief of Staff 06-03-1952, to June 30, 1953, and the nomination was confirmed by the Senate on 28-04-1952. A scratch golfer, General Vandenberg spent every free moment on the golf courses, but he was also a lover of movies, westerns and scotch. Unfortunately, his last months in uniform were painful, unhealthy ones.Death and burial ground of Vandenberg, Hoyt Sanford.
General Vandenberg retired from active duty as a result of major illness on 30-06-1953, and died nine months later, on 02-04-1954, at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center from prostate cancer at the age of 55. He is buried 
with his wife Gladys Rose, born Merritt, who died in 1978, in Section 30 of the Arlington National Cemetery.
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