George Acheson

George Robert Acheson (born January 21, 1904 in Lewiston , Maine , † August 17, 1989 in San Antonio , Texas ) was an American major general in the US Air Force .

Life

Military training and time until World War II

Acheson began studying at the University of Maine after school and joined the US Army on February 7, 1925 as a soldier ( private ) . After serving in the 24th Fighter Squadron (24th Pursuit Squadron) at France Field military airfield in the Panama Canal Zone , he joined the US Army Air Service as a flight cadet and began basic aviation training at Brooks Field military airfield in March 1926 before joining the September 1926 moved to the Kelly Field air base for advanced flight training. Upon completion of the two courses he was on 28 February 1927 as a lieutenant (Second Lieutenant) transferred to the Air Force Reserve. In June 1928 he was taken over as a lieutenant in the now Army Air Corps USAAC ( US Army Air Corps ) of the regular US Army and transferred to the 3rd Attack Group at Fort Crockett Air Force Base.

In October 1927 he was the maintenance inspector of the 8th Attack Squadron, which was also stationed at Fort Crockett, and then became a post pilot and personnel officer of the 3rd Attack Group. In September 1929 he returned to Brooks Field military airfield and was a flight instructor at the local flying school (Primary Flying School) . This was followed by a use at the Randolph Field Air Force Base from October 1931 to September 1932 and then attending the armaments course at the Air Corps Technical School at the Chanute Field Air Force Base, which he completed in March 1933. After his subsequent promotion to first lieutenant (first lieutenant) he was a squadron adjutant of the 99th Observation Squadron stationed on the Mitchel Field base and then in January 1934 pilot of the 8th hunting group (8th Pursuit Group) on the Langley Field base . After serving as an airmail pilot with the USAAC Postal Service between February and May 1934, he returned to the 99th Observation Squadron.

In January 1935 Acheson began special training for advanced aviation navigation stationed at the military airfield Rockwell Field 19th Bomb Group (19th Bombardment Group) , where he was in April 1935, Hauptmann (Captain) transported. In March 1936, Mitchel Fiel returned to the Air Force Base and became an intelligence and operations officer of the 1st Bombardment Squadron . This was followed from July 1937 to November 1938 as an intelligence and operations officer of the 26th Attack Squadron , which was stationed at the Schofield Barracks military airfield. In November 1938 he became a commanding officer ( Commanding Officer ) of the 26th Attack Squadron and then commander of the 86th Observation Squadron also stationed there .

Second World War

In August 1940 Acheson was transferred to the 43rd Bombardment Squadron at MacDill Field , where he was promoted to major in January 1941 . He was then in May 1941 commander of the 67th Bombardment Squadron and in September 1941 material officer of the 1st Air Support Service Command stationed at Pope Field military airport . On January 5, 1941 his promotion was made to Lieutenant Colonel (Lieutenant Colonel) and on March 1, 1942 Colonel (Colonel) . In July 1942 he was transferred to Barksdale Field Air Force Base , where he was the chief flight instructor of the officer training unit. Later he returned to MacDill Field and was there until May 31, 1943 Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Operations and Training of the 3rd Bomber Command (3rd Bomber Command) .

Then Acheson was in June 1943 commander of the 55th Bombardment Wing , also stationed at MacDill Field , which was transferred to the Foggia Airfield Complex in Italy in the spring of 1944 to take part in aerial combat missions in North Africa . On 11 September 1944 his promotion was made to Brigadier (Brigadier-General) . He held the post of commander of the 55th Bombardment Wing until June 18, 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his aviation services .

post war period

After the end of World War II, Acheson returned to the USA and was from 1 July to 15 November 1945 commander of the personnel center of the Ministry of War (US Department of War) in Fort Leavenworth . During this time he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal on August 13, 1945 . After a temporary assignment as chairman of the officer selection committee at the headquarters of the Heeresluftwaffe USAAF ( US Army Air Forces ) in Fort Logan, he became Chief of Staff of the 13th Air Force (Thirteenth Air Force) stationed on Leyte in the Philippines on May 24, 1946 . He was then transferred to the Far East Air Material Command in March 1947 , which became the Philippine Air Material Area , of which he was commanding general from March 16 to July 18, 1947. He was then from July 19 to September 30, 1947 Commanding General of the 4th Air Force Depot, which emerged from the Philippine Air Material Area .

After founding what is now the US Air Force, Acheson became Chief of Staff of the 5th Air Force ( Fifth Air Force ) stationed at Nagoya Airport on October 1, 1947 and remained in this position until June 21, 1949. On his return to the USA, he served from August 4 to November 14, 1949 as deputy commanding general for material of the Continental Air Command ConAC (Continental Air Command) at the Mitchel Air Force Base and was then between November 15, 1949 and February 28, 1951 deputy commanding general of it emerged Air Defense Forces East EADF (Eastern Air Defense Force) .

Acheson then served from March 1, 1951 to February 1953, the first commanding general of the newly established Air Defense Forces Center CADF (Central Air Defense Force) at Grandview Air Force Base. In this use took place on 11 April 1951 was promoted to Major General (Major-General) . At the same time he was from February 26, 1953 to February 1, 1956 Commanding General of the Alaska AAC Air Force Command (Alaskan Air Command) at Elmendorf Air Force Base . Most recently, he was on February 1, 1956, in command of the Air Force Material Command's Middletown Air Force Material Area at Olmstead Air Force Base. He remained in this post until his retirement on January 31, 1959 and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his services there . In addition, he received the Air Medal with golden oak leaves. After his death he was buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery .

Web links

• George Acheson in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• Entry in general.dk
• Entry in the Hall of Valor