Education
George Washington University.
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John Wendell
Edit ProfileCareer
He had a bachelor of science degree from Mankato State Teachers College and a master"s degree from The George Washington University. He was also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. A native of Mankato, Minnesota, he received his commission and pilot wings through the aviation cadet program in February 1944.
His first assignment was as an instructor pilot at Luke Field, Arizona.
Two years later he was reassigned to a fighter wing in Germany. In April 1949, he returned to instructor pilot duties in the Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
He was next assigned to of Korea where he flew combat missions in the F-84 Thunderjet and F-86 Sabre aircraft. While in of Korea he served as flight commander and squadron operations officer
In 1954 he received his first of three assignments to Headquarters Air Training Command.
His first assignment was as an operations staff officer In 1957 he commanded the 3529th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and in November of that year returned to Headquarters Air Training Command again as an operations staff officer Later career
In August 1958 Roberts served with Headquarters 12th Air Force at Waco, Texas, first as an operations officer and later as chief of the Combat Crew Directorate.
He was transferred to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in September 1961.
Following graduation from the National War College in 1965, he was assigned to the Pentagon where he was first the assistant chief of the Special Warfare Division, Directorate of Plans and Operations, Headquarters United States Air Force. And in October 1966 chief, Systems Division, Defense Communications Planning Group, at the Naval Observatory.
In October 1967 he became vice commander, 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and in December 1968, commander of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang Air Base, Vietnam. After 10 months at Da Nang he moved to Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, where he was the director of the Tactical Air Control Center.
He became the deputy chief of staff, personnel, in October 1973.
He became the commander of the Air Training Command in August 1975. He was promoted to the rank of general on March 29, 1977, with the same date of rank. He retired two years and two days later on March 31, 1977.
Once reflecting on his career, he said about his failures, "I crashed two aircraft when I was a captain, a B-25 and later an F-86.
Both were pilot error. I cracked up the F-86 in the woods in Michigan where the only thing left after the crash were the engine and medical ".
Achievements
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Born
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Died
January 8, 1999 (aged 78) -
Nationality
United States
Education
Awards
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Distinguished Flying Cross; legionnaire of Legion of Merit; Air Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross; Order of the Sword; Legion of Merit; Air Medal; Zuckert Management Award; Chief of Staff; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal earned during his career: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster Silver Star Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross with an oak leaf cluster Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters Order of the Sword The Order of the Sword (Officially Royal Order of the Sword Swedish Kungliga Svärdsorden) is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star.; The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.Distinguished Flying Cross; legionnaire of Legion of Merit; Air Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross; Order of the Sword; Legion of Merit; Air Medal; Zuckert Management Award; Chief of Staff; Air Force Distinguished Service Medal earned during his career: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster Silver Star Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross with an oak leaf cluster Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters Order of the Sword The Order of the Sword (Officially Royal Order of the Sword Swedish Kungliga Svärdsorden) is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on February 23, 1748, together with the Order of the Seraphim and the Order of the Polar Star.; The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.