Lieutenant General Edward Holmes Underhill
1907 - 1993
Retired July 31, 1964. Died October 23, 1993
"General Underhill was appointed an aviation cadet in October, 1927, and a year later, upon graduation from flying school, was rated a pilot, commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Reserve, and assigned to active duty. He received his regular commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps in May, 1929. During the first ten years of his military career, he received the peacetime assignments then afforded an Air Corps Officer, including duty as an engineering officer, flying instructor and squadron commander, and graduated from the Air Corps Technical School. One of those years he spent in the Panama Canal Zone as commanding officer of the 24th Pursuit Squadron.
In 1939, General Underhill became director of flying of the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas. In March, 1942, he was appointed executive officer at that station. The following May he assumed command of the Army Air Force Glider School at Dalhart, Texas. In January, 1943, he was named director of training at the Army Air Force Central Instructor School at Randolph Field, Texas, and the following November assumed command of Brooks Field, Texas. In April, 1944, he became commander of Liberal (Kansas) Army Air Field.
General Underhill was assigned to the South Pacific Theater in August, 1945, to become assistant chief of staff of the Fifth Air Force. In April, 1946, he assumed command of the Third Bomb Group in that theater. He was appointed commander of the 314th Composite Wing in the South Pacific in January, 1947.
In May, 1948, General Underhill returned to the Zone of Interior and the following August entered the National War College from which he graduated in June, 1949. He then became deputy director of military personnel at Air Force Headquarters. In October, 1950, he became acting director and was appointed director in November, 1950. Two months later he again became deputy director of military personnel.
Having received his temporary and permanent promotion to brigadier general in 1950 and 1951, respectively, General Underhill left for Japan and the post of deputy for personnel, Headquarters Far Eastern Air Forces in December, 1951. Nine months later he became the 5th Air Force's vice commander in Korea.
Appointment to director of the Joint Air Tactical Support Board, Pope Air Force Base, N.C. followed his Korean tour of duty in September of 1953. Within a year, he was named vice commander, Air Training Command, and promoted to major general.
In April, 1957, General Underhill assumed the dual command of Eastern Air Defense Force and Eastern North American Air Defense Region, formerly known as Continental Air Defense Command Forces, Eastern CONAD Region, with headquarters at Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y.
Following this, he was assigned as senior Air Force member to the Military Studies and Liaison Division, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group, Office of the Secretary of Defense, August 12, 1959.
He served as chief of staff of U.S. European Command, from July 1, 1961 to June 1, 1963.
On June 1, 1963, he assumed the new duties of chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board. Along with these duties as chairman he received the additional duty of being the senior Air Force Member, Military Staff Committee, United Nations, which is effective August 1, 1963.
(Updated as of August 1, 1963)
Add info about NORAD
Edward H Underhill - Carl F and Ella M Holmes Underhill - Charles R and Phoebe McMonagle Holmes - Daniel and Charlotte Holmes
Sources: http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7443, Photo: http://www.jid.org/councilOfDelegates/galaryOfPresidents/galaryOfPresidents.php?lang=en |
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