Archie J. Old Jr.
| Archie J. Old, Jr. | |
|---|---|
Lieutenant General Archie J. Old, Jr.
|
|
| Nickname(s) | General Old |
| Born |
August 1, 1906 Farmersville, Texas |
| Died | March 24, 1984 (aged 77) March AFB, California |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1930–1965 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star with oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters Purple Heart Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters |
Archie J. Old, Jr. (August 1, 1906 – March 24, 1984) was a General during World War II and a command Air Force pilot.
Old was born at Farmersville, Texas in 1906. Here he grew up and went to the normal childhood schools and graduated from high school. Old then studied civil engineering at Trinity University and at the University of Texas.
Old enlisted as a private in the Texas National Guard on April 16, 1930. He then attended aviation cadet training in the United States Army Air Corps. Appointed a flying cadet in February 1931, he completed his flying training at Brooks and Kelly Fields in Texas.
Old was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Reserve on February 26, 1932. He then was assigned to active duty with the 13th Attack Squadron at Fort Crockett, Texas. There he served until February 1933. Old for short periods during the following seven years was on active duty as a reserve officer.
On September 6, 1940 Old was ordered to extended active duty. At that time, he was assigned to the 52d Bombardment Squadron at MacDill Field in Florida. There he was an assistant armament and chemical officer.
In the following February he became operations officer of the 29th Bombardment Group. The group later moved to Gowen Field, Idaho, where he followed with them. Old assumed command of the 96th Bomb Group at Walla Walla, Washington, in September 1942. In January 1943 he moved his group to the European theater. In December 1943 Old became chief of the 45th Combat Bomber Wing. On August 14, 1943, (Black Thursday) Col Old led the raid on the Schweinfurt ball bearing factories in the Fertile Myrtle III. It is considered to be the largest aerial battle to have ever occurred. 376 aircraft (B-17s) dispatched, 291 made it over target, 60 failed to return. 5 crashed in England on landing, 12 that did land were so battle damaged that they were scrapped, never to fly again. Total loss, over 600 Flight Crew and 77 aircraft.
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