The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

Bill to rename highway makes it the governor

Gov. Wolf is expected to sign a bill to rename part of a highway after Boyertown native Gen. Carl A. Spaatz.

- Digital First Media

HARRISBURG » The Pennsylvan­ia House of Representa­tives on Monday concurred on Senate legislatio­n containing a measure sponsored by Rep. David Maloney, R-130th Dist., to name a portion of Route 562 in Berks County as the General Carl A. Spaatz Memorial Highway.

As the Senate has already approved the bill, it now moves to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Carl Andrew Spaatz was born in Boyertown on June 28, 1891. Drawn to aviation after graduating from West Point in 1914 and being commission­ed as a second lieutenant in the infantry, he studied at the Aviation School at San Diego.

Spaatz served with the 1st Aero Squadron as a first lieutenant under Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing during the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. He was promoted to captain in May 1917. He served in France with the American Expedition­ary Forces during World War I.

“Spaatz was a true pioneer in the early days of aviation and a decorated war hero,” Maloney said. “His quest for what others thought impossible drove him to push the envelope and spearhead a new way of thinking in military combat, surveillan­ce and reconnaiss­ance. As a fighter pilot, he is credited with shooting down three German Fokker planes behind enemy lines, which were highly regarded for their dog-fighting abilities, and earned the Distinguis­hed Service Cross.”

After a very distinguis­hed military career, in 1946 Spaatz was named commander-in-chief of the Army Air Force, and in 1947 he was named the first chief of staff of the newly independen­t U.S. Air Force. He went on to become the first chairman of the Civil Air Patrol National Board.

He retired from the military in 1948 and passed away on July 14, 1974. Maloney’s legislatio­n would designate the portion of Route 562 from the intersecti­on with Route 73 in the borough of Boyertown to the intersecti­on with Route 662 at the township line between Amity Township and Oley Township as the General Carl A. Spaatz Memorial Highway.

“Carl Spaatz’s importance to military and civil aviation contribute­d to America’s domination in air power around the globe,” Maloney said. “His life is that of an American legend that serves as an example to all Americans. Designatin­g one of our local roads in his name memorializ­es his contributi­ons to aviation and our nation’s military, and will be a source of local pride and history.”

Should Gov. Tom Wolf sign the bill into law, a ceremony to name the road will be announced at a later date, Maloney said.

 ??  ?? Gen. Carl A. Spaatz
Gen. Carl A. Spaatz

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