George B. Simler
Encyclopedia
General George B. Simler (February 16, 1921 – September 9, 1972) was a U.S. Air Force officer, who served as commander of the U.S. Air Force's Air Training Command
.
. He entered the University of Maryland
in 1940 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1942. He returned to the University of Maryland in 1946 as the first professor of Air Science and Tactics at the university. He later enrolled as a student to complete his college work, graduating in 1948. He graduated from the National War College in 1961.
during World War II
. In July 1944, on his second combat tour, he was shot down, evaded capture, and successfully returned to the Allied lines in September 1944.
Following assignments as commander of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group and the 355th Fighter Group, General Simler was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy
as director of athletics. Later in his life, he would lead the campaign to establish the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, the annual football
competition between the three U.S. service academies.
Simler was next assigned overseas to Kadena Air Base
, Okinawa, and became commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was the first Pacific Air Forces organization to convert to the F-105 Thunderchief
. In June 1965 following an assignment as commander of the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base
, Nevada, he went to Southeast Asia. During this assignment he was director of operations of the Seventh Air Force
and flew combat missions in every tactical strike aircraft assigned to the Seventh Air Force.
From Southeast Asia, General Simler was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force where he became director of operations in August 1967. He became vice commander of United States Air Forces in Europe
in July 1969. General Simler assumed command of Air Training Command in September 1970.
General Simler, along with his aide Captain Gil L. Gillespie, was killed in the crash of a T-38 Talon
jet trainer on takeoff at Randolph Air Force Base
, Texas, on September 9, 1972. He was scheduled to be promoted to the grade of General and take command of Military Airlift Command
at Scott Air Force Base
, Illinois, on September 12, 1972. He was posthumously promoted to the grade of general effective August 16, 1972.
with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross
with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal
with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart
, and the Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross
.
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
.
Background and education
General Simler was born in 1921, in Johnstown, PennsylvaniaJohnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. He entered the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1940 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1942. He returned to the University of Maryland in 1946 as the first professor of Air Science and Tactics at the university. He later enrolled as a student to complete his college work, graduating in 1948. He graduated from the National War College in 1961.
Military assignments
Simler served two combat tours in the European Theater of OperationsEuropean Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
during 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...
. In July 1944, on his second combat tour, he was shot down, evaded capture, and successfully returned to the Allied lines in September 1944.
Following assignments as commander of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group and the 355th Fighter Group, General Simler was assigned to the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
as director of athletics. Later in his life, he would lead the campaign to establish the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy, the annual football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
competition between the three U.S. service academies.
Simler was next assigned overseas to Kadena Air Base
Kadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
, Okinawa, and became commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, which was the first Pacific Air Forces organization to convert to the F-105 Thunderchief
F-105 Thunderchief
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it has the dubious distinction of being the only US aircraft to have been...
. In June 1965 following an assignment as commander of the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base
Nellis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Combat Command .-Overview:...
, Nevada, he went to Southeast Asia. During this assignment he was director of operations of the Seventh Air Force
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
and flew combat missions in every tactical strike aircraft assigned to the Seventh Air Force.
From Southeast Asia, General Simler was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force where he became director of operations in August 1967. He became vice commander of United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
in July 1969. General Simler assumed command of Air Training Command in September 1970.
General Simler, along with his aide Captain Gil L. Gillespie, was killed in the crash of a T-38 Talon
T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
jet trainer on takeoff at Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Texas, on September 9, 1972. He was scheduled to be promoted to the grade of General and take command of Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
at Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, Illinois, on September 12, 1972. He was posthumously promoted to the grade of general effective August 16, 1972.
Awards and decorations
General Simler's military decorations include the Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
with oak leaf cluster, 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...
with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, and the Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross
Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross
The Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross was a military decoration of South Vietnam which wasissued during the years of the Vietnam War. The Air Gallantry Cross was awarded formeritorious or heroic conduct while engaged in aerial combat...
.
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (United States)The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
with oak leaf cluster
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe 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...
with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with oak leaf cluster
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with eleven oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Vietnam Air Gallantry CrossVietnam Air Gallantry CrossThe Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross was a military decoration of South Vietnam which wasissued during the years of the Vietnam War. The Air Gallantry Cross was awarded formeritorious or heroic conduct while engaged in aerial combat...