Levi R. Chase
Levi R. Chase | |
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Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (28)Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Air Medal |
Major General Levi R. Chase (23 December 1917 – 4 September 1994) was an American fighter pilot and double flying ace during World War II. Chase served for 33 years including four combat tours across three different wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, he flew 512 combat missions in total.
Early life and education
He was born in Cortland, New York, in 1917. He graduated from Cortland High School, in 1936, and attended Syracuse University from 1937 through 1940.[1]
Military career
He entered active military duty in the United States Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in February 1941, and graduated from advanced flying training at Maxwell Field, Alabama, with his commission as Second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and pilot wings in September 1941.[1]
He then was assigned to the
From July 1943 to March 1944, he served as an assistant operations officer for the I Fighter Command Headquarters at Mitchel Field. From March through June 1944 he was base commander at Hills Grove Army Air Field, New York, and then operations officer and later deputy commander, 2d Air Commando Group, Lakeland Army Air Field, Florida.[1]
He went with the 2d Air Commando Group to the
Chase became a member of the Inactive Reserve in May 1945 and returned to civilian life as a New York State veteran's counselor. During this time he attended the Albany Law School, New York, from 1946 to 1949.[1]
He was recalled to active military duty in April 1951. He served successively as the deputy commander of the
In December 1952 he assumed command of the 3600th Combat Crew Fighter Training Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where he organized the original Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. In June 1955 he became a student at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. After graduation in June 1966, he served for three years as chief of both the Air Defense Branch and the Tactical Branch of the Inspector General's Office at Norton Air Force Base, California.[1]
He attended the
He was transferred to
In July 1969 he was assigned to Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, and in October 1970 became deputy chief of staff, personnel. He became vice commander of the Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, in July 1971. He was promoted to commander Ninth Air Force, effective 1 June 1973.[1] He retired from the USAF on 1 December 1973.
Awards and decorations
His military decorations included:
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Major General Levi R. Chase". www.af.mil. United States Air Force. Retrieved 1 March 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Hammel, Eric (1994). Air War Europa: Chronology: America's Air War Against Germany in Europe and North Africa. Pacifica Military History. p. 119.
- ^ Y'Blood, William T. (Feb 15, 2014). Air Commandos Against Japan: Allied Special Operations in World War II Burma. Naval Institute Press.
- ^ Wallace Beene (20 September 1966). "Col. Levi Chase marks his 500th fighter mission". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Levi Chase – Recipient -".