Description

Black and white photograph of General Henry H. Arnold presenting Major General Roger B. Colton with the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal for his work in supply and electronics during the Second World War. Original caption: "Double Honors...came to Major General Roger B. Colton, 1920, on January 8, when General H. H. Arnold made presentation of the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal. The citation for the Legion of Merit reads: 'Major General Roger B. Colton performed outstanding services from August, 1941, to June, 1943, as cheif of the materiel branch and later director of the supply service, Office of the Chief Signal Officer. In charge of supplying communication equipment, including radar, to the Army and to many of the United Nations, he supervised all phases of supply from the earliest stages of research through delivery. He discharged these responsibilities with extraordinary executive skill and with singular comprehension of the diverse technical and industrial fields which his work encompassed. These talents, coupled with his great vigor, initiative, and ingenuity, his foresight and sound judgement, and his admirable qualities of leadership, guided all activities under his control to record production despite critical shortages of materials. General Colton's performance of duty contributed materially to the war effort.' The Distinguished Service Medal carries with it the following citation: 'Major General Roger B. Colton distinguished himself from September, 1944, to September, 1945, by the exceptionally meritorius manner in which he discharged heavy responsibilities as air communications officer of the Air Technical Service Command, Wright Field, and elctronics advisor to the assistant chief of Air Staff-4, Headquarters Army Air Forces. He directed the transfer from the Signal Corps to the Army Air Forces of the research, development, procurement, storage, and issue of communications items and other electronic equipment peculiar to the Air Forces. His contributions to many electronic devices, including developments which made possible increased resolution leading to the application of radar to strategic bombing, fire control, and guided missiles, were outstanding and brought about the operational use of these implements years ahead of the most optomistic estimates of the scientific world. By his keen vision, professional knowledge, perserverance, and tireless efforts, General Colton contributed notably to the successful prosecution of the war.'" Used in: Technology Review, March 1946, p. 300.