Seth J. McKee
Encyclopedia
General Seth Jefferson McKee (born November 6, 1916) is a retired United States Air Force general who served as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD) from 1969 to 1973.
. Following graduation from Cape Girardeau High School in Missouri in 1934, he attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College for three years and the University of Oklahoma
for a half year. He began his military career in 1935, as a member of the Missouri National Guard, and his Air Force career as an aviation cadet in February 1938. He graduated from flight training in February 1939.
From February 1939 until January 1944, he served in operations and command positions at squadron and group levels. He then went to the European Theater of Operations and was named deputy commander of the 370th Fighter Group in England. He assumed command of the 370th Group in November 1944 and served in France, Belgium and Germany. During World War II, he logged more than 190 hours in 69 combat missions in the P-38 Lightning
and is credited with destroying two enemy aircraft.
At the end of World War II, he returned to the United States and served with the 3501st Army Air Forces Bases Unit at Boca Raton Army Airfield, Boca Raton, Florida
as commander of the Army Air Forces Radar School. In January 1947 he entered the University of Oklahoma as a student officer and graduated in August 1947 with a bachelor of arts degree in government.
After graduation he was assigned to Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force, March Air Force Base, California, where he was chief of the Operations and Training Division and later director of plans.
In July 1948 he entered Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama. After graduation he served as director of the Air Force Reserve at Twelfth Air Force until April 1950.
In May 1950 he was assigned to the Air Force Section of the Military Assistance Advisory Group
in Rome, Italy, as chief, Technical Advisor to the Italian Air Force
. He held this position until July 1951, when he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as chief of the Training Branch, Operations and Training Division. In December 1951 he was appointed commander of the 36th Fighter Bomber Group in Europe.
In June 1953 he returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as staff planning officer in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. In February 1954 he was named assistant secretary of the Air Force Council, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff.
In July 1956 McKee was transferred to Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia, as deputy commander of the 308th Bombardment Wing. Then on 15 Dec 1956, he was assigned as commander, 2d Bombardment Wing. In August 1958 he assumed command of the 823d Air Division
, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida.
McKee was assigned to Headquarters, Strategic Air Command
, Offutt Air Force Base
, Nebraska, in October 1959, as deputy director of plans and later was named director of plans. In February 1964 he became commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division
at Ellsworth Air Force Base
, South Dakota.
In January 1965 McKee was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and named director of plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In July 1965 he was assigned duty as assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations for Joint Chiefs of Staff matters.
In July 1966 he was named commander of U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force
with headquarters at Fuchu Air Station, Japan.
McKee was appointed assistant vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, in Washington, D.C., in July 1968.
On 1 August 1969 McKee was named commander in chief of North American Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command (NORAD/CONAD), with headquarters at Ent Air Force Base
, Colorado
. At this time, he received his fourth star. In July 1973 he was assigned additional duty as commander of U.S. Aerospace Defense Command.
His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
with two oak leaf cluster
s, Distinguished Flying Cross
, Air Medal
with 10 oak leaf clusters, Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
, Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)
, Belgian Fourragere, Order of Leopold with Palm (Belgium), First Class Order of the Crown of Thailand, Order of the Sacred Treasure
, First Class (Japan), and Order of National Security Merit
, Second Class (Republic of Korea).
McKee retired from the Air Force on September 30, 1973.
History
McKee was born in 1916, in McGehee, ArkansasMcGehee, Arkansas
McGehee is a city in Desha County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 4,219 at the 2010 census.-History:The history of the city of McGehee and the history of the railroad through McGehee are intricately interwoven...
. Following graduation from Cape Girardeau High School in Missouri in 1934, he attended Southeast Missouri State Teachers College for three years and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
for a half year. He began his military career in 1935, as a member of the Missouri National Guard, and his Air Force career as an aviation cadet in February 1938. He graduated from flight training in February 1939.
From February 1939 until January 1944, he served in operations and command positions at squadron and group levels. He then went to the European Theater of Operations and was named deputy commander of the 370th Fighter Group in England. He assumed command of the 370th Group in November 1944 and served in France, Belgium and Germany. During World War II, he logged more than 190 hours in 69 combat missions in the P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
and is credited with destroying two enemy aircraft.
At the end of World War II, he returned to the United States and served with the 3501st Army Air Forces Bases Unit at Boca Raton Army Airfield, Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
as commander of the Army Air Forces Radar School. In January 1947 he entered the University of Oklahoma as a student officer and graduated in August 1947 with a bachelor of arts degree in government.
After graduation he was assigned to Headquarters, Twelfth Air Force, March Air Force Base, California, where he was chief of the Operations and Training Division and later director of plans.
In July 1948 he entered Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell 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...
, Alabama. After graduation he served as director of the Air Force Reserve at Twelfth Air Force until April 1950.
In May 1950 he was assigned to the Air Force Section of the Military Assistance Advisory Group
Military Assistance Advisory Group
Military Assistance Advisory Group is a designation for American military advisers sent to assist in the training of conventional armed forces of Third World countries. Before and during the Vietnam War, there were three of these groups operating in Southeast Asia...
in Rome, Italy, as chief, Technical Advisor to the Italian Air Force
Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force has gone under different names in different periods:*Regia Aeronautica , from 1923 to June 1946*Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II...
. He held this position until July 1951, when he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as chief of the Training Branch, Operations and Training Division. In December 1951 he was appointed commander of the 36th Fighter Bomber Group in Europe.
In June 1953 he returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as staff planning officer in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. In February 1954 he was named assistant secretary of the Air Force Council, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff.
In July 1956 McKee was transferred to Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia, as deputy commander of the 308th Bombardment Wing. Then on 15 Dec 1956, he was assigned as commander, 2d Bombardment Wing. In August 1958 he assumed command of the 823d Air Division
823d Air Division
The 823d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Second Air Force, being stationed at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida...
, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida.
McKee was assigned to Headquarters, 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...
, Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
, Nebraska, in October 1959, as deputy director of plans and later was named director of plans. In February 1964 he became commander of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division
821st Strategic Aerospace Division
The 821st Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota...
at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota just north of Box Elder, South Dakota....
, South Dakota.
In January 1965 McKee was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., and named director of plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations. In July 1965 he was assigned duty as assistant deputy chief of staff, plans and operations for Joint Chiefs of Staff matters.
In July 1966 he was named commander of U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
with headquarters at Fuchu Air Station, Japan.
McKee was appointed assistant vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, in Washington, D.C., in July 1968.
On 1 August 1969 McKee was named commander in chief of North American Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command (NORAD/CONAD), with headquarters at Ent Air Force Base
Ent Air Force Base
Ent Air Force Base was a United States Air Force facility opened in 1951 on the site of a closed sanatorium in conjunction with the move of the United States Air Force's Air Defense Command, later Aerospace Defense Command , to Colorado Springs, Colorado...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. At this time, he received his fourth star. In July 1973 he was assigned additional duty as commander of U.S. Aerospace Defense Command.
His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air 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...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, 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 two oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
s, 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...
, 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 10 oak leaf clusters, Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, Belgian Fourragere, Order of Leopold with Palm (Belgium), First Class Order of the Crown of Thailand, Order of the Sacred Treasure
Order of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
, First Class (Japan), and Order of National Security Merit
Order of National Security Merit (Korea)
The Order of National Security Merit is one of the Republic of Korea's Orders of Merit. It is conferred on individuals who have rendered distinguished service to national security, and is primarily a military award....
, Second Class (Republic of Korea).
McKee retired from the Air Force on September 30, 1973.