Dean C. Strother
Dean C. Strother | |
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (4)Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal |
Dean Coldwell Strother (February 12, 1908 – September 24, 2000) was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as U.S. Military Representative, NATO Military Committee (USMILREP), from 1962 to 1965; and as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command/Commander in Chief, Continental Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD/CINCONAD), from 1965 to 1966. He also served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Biography
Strother was born in Winfield, Kansas, in 1908, graduated from Winfield High School in 1925 and attended Southwestern College, Winfield, until 1927 when he received a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy. Upon graduation from the academy in 1931, he attended Primary and Advanced Flying Schools at Randolph Field, Texas, and received his wings at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1932.
Some of his assignments during the period of 1932-1942 were: operations officer at Barksdale Field, Louisiana; air mail duty at the Municipal Airport, Chicago, Illinois; instrument flying instructor at Sherman Field, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; pilot with the
In July 1942, Strother became staff fighter officer of the U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific area, and when the
Strother flew to Italy in January 1944 to command the 306th Fighter Wing of the Fifteenth Air Force, and assumed command of the XV Fighter Command in October 1944. For his services during this time, he was awarded an oak leaf cluster to the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He personally led a United States fighter task force from Italy to Russia to provide direct assistance for the Russian offensive in the East, and was awarded the Silver Star.
Returning to the United States in October 1945, Strother was assigned as commander of the West Coast Wing of the
In November 1953, he returned to the United States as deputy commander of the
His decorations include the
Strother's youngest brother, Donald Root Strother, was the first Army Air Corps pilot from Cowley County, Kansas to lose his life in World War II. Strother Field is named after him.[3]
Effective dates of promotions
Rank | Date[4] |
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Second Lieutenant |
June 11, 1931 |
First Lieutenant |
April 20, 1935 |
Captain | June 11, 1941 |
Major | July 15, 1941 |
Lieutenant Colonel | January 23, 1942 |
Colonel | October 12, 1942 |
Brigadier General | May 4, 1943 |
Major General | May 16, 1949 |
Lieutenant General | September 5, 1956 |
General | June 30, 1962 |
References
- ^ "Biographical file on Dean C. Strother" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. June 7, 1956. p. 7. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ^ "Dean Strother - Recipient -".
- ^ Strother Army Air Field http://www.jcs-group.com/military/allyair/flying2.html Archived 2009-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Biography of Lt. General Dean C. Strother (USAF)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. June 30, 1958. p. 290. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force