Robert J. Dixon

Robert J. Dixon
Robert J. Dixon
	Korea War; Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross; Legion of Merit (2); Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star; Air Medal (12); Purple Heart; Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

General Robert James Dixon (April 9, 1920 – March 21, 2003) was a four-star general and Command Pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF) who served as Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC) from 1973 to 1978. He also served simultaneously as commander in chief of U.S. Air Forces for both the U.S. Atlantic Command and U.S. Readiness Command.

Biography

Dixon was born in New York City in 1920. He graduated from

RAF Dyce, Scotland, he was assigned to the 541 Squadron Royal Air Force, a photo reconnaissance squadron at RAF Benson

, England.

World War II

In September 1943 during

P-51 Mustangs

.

He flew missions in four different aircraft for a total of 235 combat flying hours in 65 missions. He was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire while doing reconnaissance of the oil refinery at Merseburg, Germany in 1944. He was captured and remained a prisoner of war until liberated by U.S. forces in May 1945.

Korea

After hospitalization, Dixon served at

82d Fighter Wing, Grenier Field

, New Hampshire.

From November 1948 to 1953, Dixon served in the Directorate of Personnel at Headquarters,

335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. He completed 28 combat missions before the Korean armistice

.

Dixon returned to the United States in 1954. He was assigned to Headquarters USAF and subsequently served as assistant to the deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, for National Security Council affairs. In this capacity he was Air Force action officer with the

U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council

.

He graduated from the

Air War College in 1959 and was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

(SHAPE), Paris, France, as staff missile planner. Reassigned to the Pentagon in 1962, he served as assistant deputy director for war plans and later as assistant for joint and National Security Council matters, deputy chief of staff, plans and operations. In this latter capacity, Dixon was the Air Force planner for Joint Chiefs of Staff matters.

In September 1965 Dixon was assigned to the

Goose Air Base. From July 1967 until July 1969, he was assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff, personnel for military personnel, and Commander, Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. While in this assignment, he received the 1969 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award

.

Vietnam

In July 1969, during the

Republic of Vietnam as Vice Commander, Seventh Air Force. He flew 36 combat missions during this tour in Southeast Asia. On August 1, 1970, he was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed the duties of deputy chief of staff, personnel, Headquarters USAF. He served in that position until October 1, 1973, at which time he was promoted to general and assumed command of Tactical Air Command (TAC).^[1]

During his tenure as COMTAC, General Robert Dixon revamped the way TAC personnel trained. It was under his command that the

Soviet-supplied integrated air defense systems by the Egyptians and the Syrians had severely restricted the capability of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to support the ground forces. Dixon developed a close friendship with the commander of the IAF, Major General Benny Peled that facilitated the prompt supply of U.S. replacement systems to Israel and also of Israeli-captured Soviet equipment to the U.S. Dixon also decentralized aircraft maintenance in order to improve aircraft availability and combat sortie rates.^[2]