In October 1942, General Arnold's C-87 Liberator, a transport version of the B-24, swooped down onto the flightline after a record-breaking trip from Brisbane, Australia. The general landed just in time to catch 25th anniversary festivities at Bolling Field (commemorating the activation date of October 2, 1917). The Commanding General, Army Air Forces, was met by General George C. Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by Assistant Secretary of War for Air Robert A. Lovett. Eleven officers including St. Clair Streett, now a brigadier general and four enlisted members of the flight received the new Air Medal for their heroism. The two-week tour covered 22,000 miles of the South Pacific in 77 hours and 11 minutes. This voyage allowed General Amold a first-hand glimpse of American aircraft in action. A man never content with second-hand information, he preferred to go out and learn for himself whenever possible.