Frank B. James
Encyclopedia
Frank B. James was a Brigadier General
in the United States Air Force
. In 1937 James graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles
. James died on December 9, 2004. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
in 1937. His first assignment was with the 79th Pursuit Squadron
, 20th Pursuit Group
. In 1941 James was named commanding officer of the 50th Flying Training Squadron
, 14th Fighter Group
. James was named commanding officer of the 55th Fighter Group
in 1943. It was during this time that the 55th Fighter Group was deployed to the United Kingdom
to take part in World War II
. James became Chief of Combat Operations, Headquarters VIII Fighter Command
, Eighth Air Force
in March 1944. In October 1944 James was named Director of Fighter, Headquarters Eight Air Force. He held this position until January 1945, when he was named Director of Operations, Headquarters Eight Air Force. Following his service in the War, James became commanding officer of McChord Field and was a member of the faculty at the Air Command and Staff College
. James graduated from Armed Forces Staff College
in 1948 and held a faculty position there until 1950 when he was appointed as the U.S. Air Attaché to the Embassy of the United States in Moscow
. In 1951 James was named Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force. James graduated fro the Air War College
in 1954 and that same year was named Air Force Assistant Director, Joint Intelligence Group, Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
. In 1956 James was again appointed U.S. Air Attaché, this time to the Embassy of the United States in London. Following that assignment, James was named Deputy Chief of Staff-Intelligence and Deputy Chief of Staff-Programs of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
. His retirement was effective as of June 1, 1968.
Awards he received include the Legion of Merit
.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Biography
James was born on March 21, 1912 in Delavan, WisconsinDelavan, Wisconsin
Delavan is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,463 at the 2010 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Delavan.-Economy:Delavan is home to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and Andes Candies.-History:...
. In 1937 James graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. James died on December 9, 2004. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
Career
James originally joined the United States Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in 1937. His first assignment was with the 79th Pursuit Squadron
79th Fighter Squadron
The 79th Fighter Squadron is part of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.-History:...
, 20th Pursuit Group
20th Fighter Wing
The 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Ninth Air Force.-Mission:...
. In 1941 James was named commanding officer of the 50th Flying Training Squadron
50th Flying Training Squadron
The 50th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.-History:...
, 14th Fighter Group
14th Operations Group
The 14th Operations Group is the flying component of the 14th Flying Training Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command...
. James was named commanding officer of the 55th Fighter Group
55th Operations Group
The 55th Operations Group is a component of the 55th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska....
in 1943. It was during this time that the 55th Fighter Group was deployed to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to take part in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. James became Chief of Combat Operations, Headquarters VIII Fighter Command
VIII Fighter Command
The VIII Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at RAF Honington, England. It was inactivated on 20 March 1946....
, Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in March 1944. In October 1944 James was named Director of Fighter, Headquarters Eight Air Force. He held this position until January 1945, when he was named Director of Operations, Headquarters Eight Air Force. Following his service in the War, James became commanding officer of McChord Field and was a member of the faculty at the Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
. James graduated from Armed Forces Staff College
Joint Forces Staff College
The Joint Forces Staff College located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinational warfighters to plan and lead at the operational level...
in 1948 and held a faculty position there until 1950 when he was appointed as the U.S. Air Attaché to the Embassy of the United States in Moscow
Embassy of the United States in Moscow
The Embassy of the United States in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of the United States to the Russian Federation. It is located in the Presnensky District in the city center of Moscow. Its address is: Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No...
. In 1951 James was named Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force. James graduated fro the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
in 1954 and that same year was named Air Force Assistant Director, Joint Intelligence Group, Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
. In 1956 James was again appointed U.S. Air Attaché, this time to the Embassy of the United States in London. Following that assignment, James was named Deputy Chief of Staff-Intelligence and Deputy Chief of Staff-Programs of the North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command
North American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...
. His retirement was effective as of June 1, 1968.
Awards he received include the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.