James Edmond Fechet (August 21, 1877 – February 10, 1948) was a major general in the United States Army and the Chief of Air Corps 1927–1931.
Born at Fort Ringgold, Texas, in 1877, to Edmond G. Fechet, his military experience began with his youth as an Army Infantry officer's son living at various frontier stations in the West.
For his services in this role he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General James Edmond Fechet (ASN: 0-1139), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Director of the Promotion Board at Army Air Forces Headquarters with additional duty as president of the Pilot Allocation Board, Procurement Board and Decorations Board from March 1942 to April 1946.
The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Fechet and his dedicated contributions in the service of his country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.
Morale of flyers and mechanics was to him as important a measurement factor for an operation as flying accident rates and engine failures.
Moreover, the great military potential of airpower was not understood either by the general public or by many key officers in the ground forces.
Under General Fechet the air arm grew from less than 1,000 aircraft to 1,700, organized into attack, bombardment, pursuit and observation squadrons.
The engineering and logistics center of the air arm, the Material Division, was established in its permanent home at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio.