Allegiance United States Unit 91st Aero Squadron Name Victor Strahm | Rank Major Years of service 1917 - 1953 | |
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Buried Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA Battles/wars World War I
World War II Other work Deputy commander, 9th Air Force during World War II Died May 11, 1957, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, United States Education Western Kentucky University Place of burial Shreveport, Louisiana, United States Awards Distinguished Service Cross Service/branch United States Army Air Service | ||
Major (later Brigadier General) Victor Herbert Strahm (26 October 1895 – 11 May 1957) began his career as a World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. In his 36-year career, he served as chief test pilot for the United States Army Air Forces while en route to higher command.
During World War II, Strahm was deputy commander of the Ninth Air Force. He was promoted to deputy commander of the 33rd Air Division at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City and commander of Barksdale Air Force Base at Shreveport, Louisiana. He retired with the rank of Brigadier General in 1953 after 36 years of service. On 28 April 1957, having undergone heart surgery and despondent due to ill health, Strahm was found at his home in Shreveport with a bullet wound to the head and a .32 caliber pistol at his side. He was flown to the Lackland Air Force Base hospital but died on 11 May at the age of 61.