George J. Eade
Encyclopedia
General George James Eade (born October 27, 1921) is a retired United States Air Force
four star general who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command
(DCINCEUR) from 1973 to 1975.
Eade was born in Lockney, Texas
, in 1921. He graduated from York High School
in Elmhurst, Illinois
, and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology
. He entered military service as an aviation cadet in January 1942 from Chicago, Illinois, and, that September was awarded his pilot wings and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
He flew 37 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations, where he served almost four years as a pilot, flight commander and operations officer.
Eade began a long tour of duty with the Strategic Air Command
in August 1946, when he joined the 43d Bombardment Wing at Davis-Monthan Army Air Field, Arizona, as a pilot of B-29 aircraft. In September 1947 he was assigned as operations officer and, later, commander of the 1st Strategic Support Squadron, which provided SAC with close airlift support for its global operations.
In May 1952 he went to SAC headquarters, where he was chief of the Current Operations Branch, Directorate of Operations. From 1956 through 1958, he was the deputy director of operations at SAC's 7th Air Division in England.
After he returned to the United States in November 1958, he served as deputy commander for operations and then commander of the 4238th Strategic Wing (redesignated 2d Bombardment Wing) at Barksdale Air Force Base
, Louisiana. From June 1961 to July 1963, he commanded the 7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell Air Force Base
, Texas.
In July 1963 General Eade returned to SAC headquarters as chief of the Safety Division. It was during this assignment that SAC was awarded the Daedalian Flying Safety Trophy for 1964. In January 1965 he was assigned as chief of the Control Division, and in July 1967 he assumed duties as director of operations plans, deputy chief of staff for operations, with additional duties as chief, Single Integrated Operational Plans Division, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Eade was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in February 1970 as director of plans, office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In January 1971 he assumed duties as the assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, and in April he became the deputy chief of staff, plans and operations. He assumed duties as deputy commander in chief of the U.S. European Command April 20, 1973.
, Legion of Merit
, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was rated a command pilot. He retired from the Air Force on September 1, 1975.
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...
four star general who served as Deputy Commander in Chief, United States European Command
United States European Command
The United States European Command is one of ten Unified Combatant Commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, and Israel...
(DCINCEUR) from 1973 to 1975.
Eade was born in Lockney, Texas
Lockney, Texas
Lockney is a town in Floyd County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,056 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lockney is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
, in 1921. He graduated from York High School
York Community High School
York Community High School is a public secondary school in Elmhurst, Illinois, United States. Most of the students reside in Elmhurst, however the district also draws a small number of students from Addison, Bensenville, and Oak Brook...
in Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
, and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
. He entered military service as an aviation cadet in January 1942 from Chicago, Illinois, and, that September was awarded his pilot wings and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps.
He flew 37 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations, where he served almost four years as a pilot, flight commander and operations officer.
Eade began a long tour of duty with the Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
in August 1946, when he joined the 43d Bombardment Wing at Davis-Monthan Army Air Field, Arizona, as a pilot of B-29 aircraft. In September 1947 he was assigned as operations officer and, later, commander of the 1st Strategic Support Squadron, which provided SAC with close airlift support for its global operations.
In May 1952 he went to SAC headquarters, where he was chief of the Current Operations Branch, Directorate of Operations. From 1956 through 1958, he was the deputy director of operations at SAC's 7th Air Division in England.
After he returned to the United States in November 1958, he served as deputy commander for operations and then commander of the 4238th Strategic Wing (redesignated 2d Bombardment Wing) at Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
, Louisiana. From June 1961 to July 1963, he commanded the 7th Bombardment Wing at Carswell Air Force Base
Carswell Air Force Base
Carswell Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located about northwest central of Fort Worth, Texas, United States; the air force base is mostly within the Fort Worth city limits and has portions within Westworth and White Settlement...
, Texas.
In July 1963 General Eade returned to SAC headquarters as chief of the Safety Division. It was during this assignment that SAC was awarded the Daedalian Flying Safety Trophy for 1964. In January 1965 he was assigned as chief of the Control Division, and in July 1967 he assumed duties as director of operations plans, deputy chief of staff for operations, with additional duties as chief, Single Integrated Operational Plans Division, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Eade was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in February 1970 as director of plans, office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In January 1971 he assumed duties as the assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, and in April he became the deputy chief of staff, plans and operations. He assumed duties as deputy commander in chief of the U.S. European Command April 20, 1973.
Awards and decorations
His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
, 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...
, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal. He was rated a command pilot. He retired from the Air Force on September 1, 1975.
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
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...
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal