Muir S. Fairchild
Encyclopedia
General Muir Stephen Fairchild was former vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force
. He was born September 2, 1894 at Bellingham, Washington
, and died March 17, 1950 at Fort Myer
, Virginia
.
, California
, getting his wings and commission in the Army's Aviation Section in January 1918.
, Ohio; Mitchel Field
, New York
, and Langley Field, Virginia
.
In 1926 and 1927, he flew to South America as part of the Pan American Good Will Flight a 22,000-mile (35,200 km) pioneering flight that sought to promote U.S. commercial aviation and take messages of friendship to the governments and people of Central and South America, while forging aerial navigation routes through the Americas. The flight originated with five aircraft and crews taking off from Kelly Field, Texas on December 21, 1926 seeking to land in 23 Central and South American countries.
The aircraft used for the journey were new observation planes, the Loening OA-1A that could be used as both landplanes and seaplanes, with Liberty engines and a wood interior structure with an aluminum-covered fuselage and fabric-covered wings. Each plane was named for a U.S. city and crewed by two pilots, one of whom was an engineering officer, since there were very few airfields or repair facilities along the route, with the crew choosing the motto "No Work, No Ride."
Crew of the New York: Maj. Herbert Dargue
, Lt. Ennis Whitehead
;
Crew of the San Antonio: Capt. Arthur McDaniel, Lt. Charles Robinson;
Crew of the San Francisco: Capt. Ira Eaker, Lt. Muir Fairchild;
Crew of the Detroit: Capt. Clinton Woolsey, Lt. John Benton;
Crew of the St. Louis: Lt. Bernard Thompson, Lt. Leonard Weddington
The flight was marred by tragedy when the Detroit and New York accidentally collided mid-air and got locked together. The crew of the New York were able to parachute to safety but Capt. Woolsley and Lt. Benton were killed when the Detroit hit the ground.
The Pan American Flyers were greeted by a cheering crowd including President Calvin Coolidge, Cabinet members, and diplomats from Central and Latin America when they returned to Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., on May 2, 1927.
Fairchild and the rest of the surviving Pan American Flight crew, and Charles Lindbergh
, were among the first nine aviators to receive the newly created award Distinguished Flying Cross
.
Fairchild went on to complete the course in the Air Corps Engineer School at Wright Field
in June 1929 and went to Santa Monica, California
, as Air Corps representative to Douglas Aircraft Corporation. In the June 1935 he was graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School
, along with strategic bombing advocates Haywood S. Hansell
, Barney Giles, Laurence S. Kuter
, and Hoyt S. Vandenberg, then became an Air Corps Tactical School
instructor. He later attended the Army Industrial College, and the Army War College. He rose to director of air tactics and strategy in 1939.
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
, with promotion to lieutenant general. On May 27, 1948 he became vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force, with the rank of general. General Fairchild died on March 17, 1950 while still on active duty as vice chief of staff. He was survived by his wife, Florence Alice Fairchild, and his daughter, Betty Anne Calvert.
is named in his honor. Fairchild Air Force Base
in Spokane, Washington, was named for General Fairchild after his death. Fairchild Memorial Hall
, the Air University Library
, was also named for him.
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...
. He was born September 2, 1894 at Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
, and died March 17, 1950 at Fort Myer
Fort Myer
Fort Myer is a U.S. Army post adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It is a small post by U.S...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Early service
Muir S. Fairchild graduated from Olympia High School in 1913, then entered the US Army's Signal Corps in 1913 in a reserve unit in Seattle, Washington, while he was a student at the University of Washington. In 1916, he entered the Washington National Guard with the rank of sergeant, and his unit was deployed in the search for Pancho Villa along the Mexican border, where he spent much time in a horse saddle in the desert heat. Watching observation planes flying overhead in the Unites State's first armed conflict using airplanes, Fairchild was an easy recruit when flyboys were being sought to fight with the French and Italians in the developing war in Europe, before the US entered WWI. Fairchild fought the Germans from the air over the Rhine, including night bombing missions, in an era when bombs were still being released from the grasp of the bombardier. A year later Fairchild became a flying cadet at BerkeleyBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, getting his wings and commission in the Army's Aviation Section in January 1918.
Between the wars
In December 1918 Fairchild returned home and served at McCook FieldMcCook Field
McCook Field was an airfield and aviation experimentation station operated by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps and its successor the United States Army Air Service from 1917-1927...
, Ohio; Mitchel Field
Mitchel Air Force Base
Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex currently home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.-Origins:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Langley Field, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
In 1926 and 1927, he flew to South America as part of the Pan American Good Will Flight a 22,000-mile (35,200 km) pioneering flight that sought to promote U.S. commercial aviation and take messages of friendship to the governments and people of Central and South America, while forging aerial navigation routes through the Americas. The flight originated with five aircraft and crews taking off from Kelly Field, Texas on December 21, 1926 seeking to land in 23 Central and South American countries.
The aircraft used for the journey were new observation planes, the Loening OA-1A that could be used as both landplanes and seaplanes, with Liberty engines and a wood interior structure with an aluminum-covered fuselage and fabric-covered wings. Each plane was named for a U.S. city and crewed by two pilots, one of whom was an engineering officer, since there were very few airfields or repair facilities along the route, with the crew choosing the motto "No Work, No Ride."
Crew of the New York: Maj. Herbert Dargue
Herbert Dargue
Herbert Arthur "Bert" Dargue was a career officer in the United States Army, reaching the rank of major general in the Army Air Forces. He was a pioneer military aviator and one of the first ten recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross.Dargue entered the United States Military Academy on June...
, Lt. Ennis Whitehead
Ennis Whitehead
Ennis Clement Whitehead was an early United States Army aviator and a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. Whitehead joined the U. S. Army after the United States entered World War I in 1917...
;
Crew of the San Antonio: Capt. Arthur McDaniel, Lt. Charles Robinson;
Crew of the San Francisco: Capt. Ira Eaker, Lt. Muir Fairchild;
Crew of the Detroit: Capt. Clinton Woolsey, Lt. John Benton;
Crew of the St. Louis: Lt. Bernard Thompson, Lt. Leonard Weddington
The flight was marred by tragedy when the Detroit and New York accidentally collided mid-air and got locked together. The crew of the New York were able to parachute to safety but Capt. Woolsley and Lt. Benton were killed when the Detroit hit the ground.
The Pan American Flyers were greeted by a cheering crowd including President Calvin Coolidge, Cabinet members, and diplomats from Central and Latin America when they returned to Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., on May 2, 1927.
Fairchild and the rest of the surviving Pan American Flight crew, and Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
, were among the first nine aviators to receive the newly created award 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...
.
Fairchild went on to complete the course in the Air Corps Engineer School at Wright Field
Wright Field
Wright Field was an airfield of the United States Army Air Corps and Air Forces near Riverside, Ohio. From 1927 to 1947 it was the research and development center for the Air Corps, and during World War II a flight test center....
in June 1929 and went to Santa Monica, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, as Air Corps representative to Douglas Aircraft Corporation. In the June 1935 he was graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School
Air Corps Tactical School
The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. Created in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, it...
, along with strategic bombing advocates Haywood S. Hansell
Haywood S. Hansell
Haywood Shepherd Hansell Jr., was a general officer in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and later the United States Air Force...
, Barney Giles, Laurence S. Kuter
Laurence S. Kuter
General Laurence Sherman Kuter was a Cold War-era U.S. Air Force general and former commander of NORAD...
, and Hoyt S. Vandenberg, then became an Air Corps Tactical School
Air Corps Tactical School
The Air Corps Tactical School, also known as ACTS and "the Tactical School", was a military professional development school for officers of the United States Army Air Service and United States Army Air Corps, the first such school in the world. Created in 1920 at Langley Field, Virginia, it...
instructor. He later attended the Army Industrial College, and the Army War College. He rose to director of air tactics and strategy in 1939.
Second World War
In 1940, Fairchild went to the Plans Division in Washington and in 1941 was named secretary of the newly formed Air Staff. Two months later he was advanced two grades to brigadier general and named assistant chief of Air Corps. In 1942 he became director of military requirements and was promoted to major general in August. In November he became a member of the Joint Strategic Survey CommitteeJoint Strategic Survey Committee
The Joint Strategic Survey Committee was an extraordinary committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during World War II that existed from 1942 until 1947. It was "one of the most influential planning agencies in the wartime armed forces."-Members:...
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Post war
In January 1946 he was named commandant of Air University at Maxwell FieldMaxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, with promotion to lieutenant general. On May 27, 1948 he became vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force, with the rank of general. General Fairchild died on March 17, 1950 while still on active duty as vice chief of staff. He was survived by his wife, Florence Alice Fairchild, and his daughter, Betty Anne Calvert.
Legacy
Fairchild Hall, the main academic building at the United States Air Force AcademyUnited 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...
is named in his honor. Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately southwest of Spokane, Washington.The host unit at Fairchild is the 92d Air Refueling Wing assigned to the Air Mobility Command's 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force...
in Spokane, Washington, was named for General Fairchild after his death. Fairchild Memorial Hall
Fairchild Memorial Hall
Fairchild Memorial Hall houses the Air University library at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.The premier library in the United States Department of Defense, the AU Library holds especially strong collections in the fields of warfare, aeronautics, United States Air Force and DOD operations,...
, the Air University Library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, was also named for him.
External links
- Official U.S. Air Force bio
- Air University Library bio
- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=47345857