Joseph J. Nazzaro
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Joseph J. Nazzaro | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, US | March 21, 1913
Died | February 5, 1990 Tucson, Arizona[1] | (aged 76)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1936–1971 |
Rank | General |
Commands held |
|
Battles/wars | World War II Cold War |
Awards |
Joseph James Nazzaro (March 21, 1913 – February 5, 1990) was commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii and commander in chief of Strategic Air Command with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
Early life and military career
Nazzaro, son of Italian immigrants, was born in New York, New York in 1913. He grew up in Queens with brother John (Marine Colonel) and sisters Mary, Francis, and Rose. He attended high school in New York,
He then served in the Philippine Islands and from 1940 to 1942, Nazzaro held assignments with the
Early in 1943, Nazzaro was named commander of the
In May 1946, he became chief of the Operations Division, Headquarters Strategic Air Command,
In August 1952, Nazzaro moved to
In June 1955, Nazzaro was appointed commander of Strategic Air Command's 15th Air Division in Morocco. He returned to the United States in July 1957 and was assigned to U.S. Air Force Headquarters as director of personnel planning.
In July 1959, Nazzaro was named deputy commander,
Strategic Air Command and Pacific Air Forces
In December 1964, Nazzaro became vice commander in chief of Strategic Air Command, and in February 1967 following the appointment of General
In 1968 following the appointment of General John D. Ryan as the new United States Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, General Nazzaro was appointed to succeeded General John D. Ryan as the new Commanders-in-Chief of the Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF).[4] He assumed his duties as commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces with headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in August 1968.[4] In this capacity General Nazzaro oversaw all of the United States Air Forces operation within the Pacific region, especially the one in South Vietnam under the Seventh Air Force. During his tenured as Commander of The Pacific Air Forces, General Nazzaro oversaw the last stage of Operation Rolling Thunder, a bombing campaign over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War which ended on November 2, 1968.[5]
General Joseph J. Nazzaro retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1971, after 35 years of active-duty within the United States Air Force and died of cancer February 5, 1990 at age 76. He was buried with military honors at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[4]
Awards and decorations
He was a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer. His military decorations include the
- Air Force Command Pilot Badge
- Basic Missile Maintenance Badge
- Air Force Distinguished Service Medalwith oak leaf cluster
- Silver Star
- Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Gallery
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Joseph J. Nazzaro while serving as Eight Air Force deputy director of operations for Strategic Air Forces in Europe during World War II.
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Lieutenant General Joseph J. Nazzaro greeted Under Secretary of the United States Air Force Brockway McMillan during his tenure as Strategic Air Command Vice Commanders-in-Chief at Offutt Air Force, January 17, 1965.
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Commander-in-Chief of The Strategic Air Command General Joseph J. Nazzaro during a visit to Korat Air Force Base, Thailand 1968.
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NORAD Headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado1967.
References
- ^ Obituaries: Joseph J. Nazzaro, 76, An Air Force General – New York Times. Nytimes.com (1990-02-07). Retrieved on 2011-12-28.
- ^ ISBN 978-0933852778.
- ^ ISBN 978-1575100524.
- ^ a b c "Joseph J. Nazzaro, 76, An Air Force General". nytimes.com. February 7, 1990. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ISBN 978-1472823205.
This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force