Courtesy Photo | Lt. Jarvis Offutt poses for a photo while sitting in the cockpit of a DH-4B. In 1918,...... read more read more
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First Lieutenant Jarvis Jenness Offutt, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, and the first Omaha-born pilot to die in World War I, left an enduring legacy that reshaped his community’s sense of honor and remembrance.
Born in 1894, Offutt came from a distinguished family. His grandfather, Casper Yost, was a Nebraska territorial marshal, and his father, Charles Offutt, a prominent attorney in Omaha. Offutt excelled academically and athletically, attending Omaha Central High School and later, Yale University, where he joined the Varsity Club, Glee Club, Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, and became a celebrated hurdler on the track team.
Jarvis’s military commitment began as a company supply sergeant with the Yale Field Artillery. Following his officer training in 1916, he joined the U.S. Army Air Service as part of the Royal Flying Corps in Canada, and then transitioned to the Royal Air Force’s 56 Squadron in England. He was the first U.S. exchange officer to serve in the 56. His duties included ferrying planes across the English Channel to support allied operations on the Western Front, a perilous task that required daily flights through potentially hostile skies.
Tragically, on August 13, 1918, Jarvis Offutt died in a crash while flying an S.E.5 biplane in France. The cause of the crash remains unclear.
In 1924, the Omaha community took steps to honor him recognizing the significance of Jarvis’s sacrifice. The Douglas County Reserve Officers Association proposed renaming Fort Crook’s airfield—an essential air mail hub and future military airfield—as Offutt Field. On May 10, 1924, a dedication ceremony was held in Jarvis’s memory. His mother, Bertha Yost Offutt, and his brother, Casper, attended as a formation of 19 planes performed an aerial salute, solidifying Offutt Field as a site of regional pride and remembrance.
Over the next few decades, Offutt Field evolved into a vital defense installation. During World War II, it became the site of a massive bomber production facility, operated by the Glenn L. Martin Company. This factory produced 1,585 B-26 Marauders and 531 iconic B-29 Superfortress bombers, including the Enola Gay and Bockscar, which carried out the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By 1948, the installation was officially renamed Offutt Air Force Base as it became the headquarters for the Strategic Air Command, playing a central role in U.S. defense strategy during the Cold War.
Throughout Offutt Air Force Base’s history, it has been more than a military installation. It represents Omaha's commitment to honoring the legacy of its fallen heroes, specifically Jarvis Offutt, whose ultimate sacrifice left a mark on his community.
Today, Offutt Air Force Base continues to be a cornerstone of national defense as home to U.S. Strategic Command, the 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing.
Events like the 2018 Defenders of Freedom Air & Space Show commemorated the 100th anniversary of Offutt’s passing, where descendants of the Offutt family gathered with members of the Royal Air Force and U.S. military to celebrate his legacy. As a result, Offutt Air Force Base remains not only a tribute to Jarvis Offutt’s bravery but a symbol of Omaha’s enduring respect for those who serve.
Offutt’s story of valor and his family’s connection to Omaha resonate across generations, making Offutt Air Force Base a place where both the past and future converge in reverence for service and sacrifice.
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2024 15:17 |
| Story ID: | 485667 |
| Location: | OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA, US |
| Hometown: | OMAHA, NEBRASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Lt. Jarvis Offutt: A Hero’s Legacy, by Kris Pierce, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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