John B. Henry Jr.
John B. Henry Jr. | |
|---|---|
22nd Bombardment Wing | |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | (France) |
John Bailey Henry Jr. (15 July 1916 – 2 September 2013) was a
Air War College. His final posting was chief of staff of the United States Southern Command
in Panama. He retired in 1974. He died on 2 September 2013 at the age of 97.
Early life
John Bailey Henry Jr. was born in
aviation cadet in March 1938. Upon graduation in February 1939, he received his pilot wings and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps.[2]
World War II
Henry became operations officer of the
Rice Field, California.[2]
The 339th Fighter Group moved to England in March 1944, where it joined the
4th Bombardment Wing. He subsequently became chief of staff of the 20th Bombardment Wing,[2] which returned to the United States in August 1945.[4] He flew a total of 94 combat missions.[2]
Postwar
After the war ended, Henry commanded air bases in
22nd Bombardment Wing there.[2]
In July 1954 Henry entered the
Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After graduating the following year, he became chief of the Promotions and Separations Division at United States Air Force (USAF) headquarters at The Pentagon. He became head of the Office of Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel in June 1958. He was posted to the headquarters of the Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii as director of the secretariat, then assistant chief of staff for plans, and finally as assistant chief of staff for operations.[2]
Henry returned to USAF headquarters in August 1963 as deputy inspector general, and in August 1966 as director of the
Quarry Heights in the Panama Canal Zone. He retired on 1 August 1974.[2]
Later life and honors and awards
Henry died on 2 September 2013 and was interred in Sunset Memorial Park in
San Antonio, Texas.[1] His military decorations included the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945, and the Air Force Military Cross, 2nd Class from Venezuela.[2]
Notes
- ^ a b "John Henry Obituary". Sunset Memorial Park & Funeral Home. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Major General John B. Henry Jr. > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". United States Air Force. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ Beltran, Jacob (8 September 2013). "Henry was accomplished general, loved flying". San Antonio Express. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ OCLC 566017058. Retrieved 25 April 2020.