Ralph Francis Stearley
Ralph Francis Stearley | |
---|---|
Born | Brazil, Indiana, U.S. | July 25, 1898
Died | February 3, 1973 Brazil, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 74)
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Air Force United States Army |
Years of service | 1918–1954 |
Rank | Major general |
Commands held | I Tactical Air Division IX Tactical Air Command Fourteenth Air Force Twentieth Air Force |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II Korean War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Air Medal Bronze Star Medal Commendation Medal |
Ralph Francis Stearley,
Education
After graduation, he remained at the academy until the following July, when he made a tour of battlefields in Europe. Upon his return to the United States in October 1919, he entered the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas, from which he graduated the following July.[2] He then joined the 4th Cavalry at Fort Brown, Texas.[1]
He entered
Early career
In March 1925 he was transferred to the
He was ordered to the
In May 1940 he became assistant executive officer in the Training and Operations Division of the Office of the Chief of Air Corps in Washington, which later became the Flying Training Command.[1]
World War II
During April 1942 he served on the Canadian–American Military Board and in June of that year was appointed chief of the Air Group of the Military Intelligence Service of the
In April 1944 he joined the
Post-war
He returned to Air Force headquarters in January 1946 for duty as deputy chief of the Legislative and Liaison Division of the War Department General Staff. Two years later, he was appointed director of the Legislative and Liaison Division of the Directorate of Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
He was named commanding general of the Fourteenth Air Force at Orlando Air Force Base, Florida, in July 1948 and retained that position when the 14th Air Force was moved to Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, in October 1949.[1]
In July 1950 he was appointed commanding general of the
He died in Brazil, Indiana, on February 3, 1973, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[3]
Awards and commendations
Distinguished Service Medal | |
Legion of Merit | |
Bronze Star Medal | |
Air Medal | |
Commendation Medal | |
Order of the British Empire, Degree of Commander (CBE) Honorary | |
Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (France)
| |
Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France) | |
Order of Leopold (Belgium) | |
Croix de Guerre avec Palme (Belgium)
| |
Orde van Oranje-Nassau , Degree of Commander (The Netherlands)
|
He was rated a command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer.
References
- ^ a b c d e f "USAF Biography 'Major General Ralph Francis Stearley'". Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b Cullum, George Washington (1920). Robinson, Wirt (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890. Vol. VI-B: 1910–1920. Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. p. 2106. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
- The Terre Haute Tribune. Brazil, Indiana. February 4, 1973. p. 8. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.