Harry Max Darmstandler (August 9, 1922 – February 21, 2012) was an American Air Force major general who was special assistant to the chief of staff for B-1 Matters, Headquarters, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he coordinated Air Force activities related to the B-1 bomber.
Darmstandler was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922, where he graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1940. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in military science from the University of Omaha, in 1964, and a Master of Science degree in international relations from The George Washington University, in 1965.
He entered the aviation cadet program in Santa Ana, California, in May 1942 and graduated at Luke Air Field, Arizona, as a pilot and second lieutenant in February 1943.
During World War II, Darmstandler served as an instructor pilot in the Air Training Command, and later as aircraft commander of a B-24 crew assigned to the 456th Bombardment Group in Italy. He flew 21 combat missions and remained in Italy after V-E Day through July 1945, flying gasoline and oil into Trieste. In September 1945 he separated from active duty, retaining a commission in the Army Air Corps Reserve.
In November 1948 Darmstandler returned to active duty to participate in the Berlin airlift. Assigned to the 29th Troop Carrier Squadron, he completed nearly 200 missions before returning to the United States in July 1949 to join the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He then became a B-17 "director pilot" for Operation GREENHOUSE nuclear tests conducted at Eniwetok Atoll in early 1951. Following the test series, he joined the 61st Troop Carrier Group in Japan where he flew combat cargo missions in support of military operations in Korea. In November 1952 the 61st Group returned to the United States and transitioned into C-124 Globemaster aircraft with Darmstandler as the group chief pilot.
In February 1954 Darmstandler moved to Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he served as operations and training inspector under the inspector general, Eighteenth Air Force. During the winter of 1955–1956, he staged at Frobisher Bay, flying into ice air strips on frozen lakes in Northern Canada in support of the installation of the Defense Early Warning (DEW) Line. In the academic year of 1955–1956, he attended Command and Staff School at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. He then returned to the 61st Troop Carrier Group to command a rotational detachment of C-124 aircraft at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. During this tour of duty, he led the air evacuation of American nationals from Tel Aviv at the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli conflict of 1956, and participated in the airlift of the United Nations security forces from the Scandinavian countries to the Suez.
In July 1957 Darmstandler was assigned as aide and flag pilot to the commandant, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. In September 1960 he joined the staff of the commander in chief, Pacific, for a three-year tour. He next attended the University of Omaha under Operation BOOTSTRAP, and in August 1964 entered the National War College, during which time he also obtained a master's degree at The George Washington University.
In July 1965 Darmstandler was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving initially in the North American Division and later in the Current Operations Branch of the Pacific Division. During this period, he served on temporary duty in the Republic of Vietnam, visiting all of the major Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps units in-country while analyzing the system for close air support.
In August 1968 Darmstandler was chosen to be a research fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles. In July 1969 he was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as special assistant to the chief of staff and in June 1970 became executive to the chief of staff. In February 1972 he was assigned as commander, 12th Strategic Air Division, SAC, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
Darmstandler was reassigned as the assistant deputy chief of staff for plans, Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, in March 1973, and became the deputy chief of staff for plans in September 1973. In this position, he directed the formulation and development of plans, policies, programs and requirements for SAC. He also served as the commander in chief, SAC, representative to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Darmstandler assumed the position as special assistant to the chief of staff for B-1 Matters, U.S. Air Force, in July 1974.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. He wears the Missileman Badge and is a command pilot with more than 7,000 flying hours.
He was promoted to the grade of major general effective September 1, 1973, with date of rank February 1, 1971. He retired September 1, 1975.
Darmstandler died in 2012. He was 89.
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Some of their strengths
H. M. Darmstandler has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Bold, Confident, Energetic, Courageous, Extroverted, Passionate, and Insightful.
Bold and Confident
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, H. M. Darmstandler is someone who is a bold, confident, energetic, and optimistic person, who is able to combine personal warmth and charisma with intelligence. A person who sees life as a journey not a destination.
Helpful and Supportive
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know H. M. Darmstandler well know them as someone who can be accepting, supportive, and productive, like a garden.
Ambitious and Forceful
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe H. M. Darmstandler as someone who is ambitious, hard-working, determined, and intelligent.
A person who has a knack for identifying opportunities, has amazing concentration and focus, who can work independently, who likes starting new things, and who is somewhat of an intellectual.
Courageous and Strong
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, H. M. Darmstandler is someone who is a risk-taker and a pioneer who only gets stronger through the hardships that are encountered in life.
They are also someone who is calm, comforting, and stable, and who loves stability and being a good friend and loyal partner.
Creative and Leadership-oriented
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, H. M. Darmstandler tends to be someone who is a natural leader, with determination, motivational powers, and who takes obligations seriously. Who has charisma, a sense of humor, and who tends to attract attention.
Some of H. M. Darmstandler's challenges
While H. M. Darmstandler has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, H. M. Darmstandler can be Arrogant, Stubborn, Status-seeking, Indecisive, Unrealistic, Impulsive, and Careless.
Arrogant and Status-seeking
One of H. M. Darmstandler's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as arrogant and status-seeking.
Relentless and Inflexible
H. M. Darmstandler is someone who can be relentless, obsessive, and inflexible, who can be confrontational with work colleagues, can have difficulty communicating feelings and be somewhat reclusive, and who can be self-destructive, overindulgent, and extravagant.
Domineering and Stubborn
Finally, H. M. Darmstandler also can be too rebellious, not respond to criticism well, and be too emotional and extreme about things.
