Hunter Harris
| Hunter Harris Jr. | |
|---|---|
General Hunter Harris Jr.
|
|
| Born | November 27, 1909 Fort Sam Houston, Texas |
| Died | March 5, 1987 (aged 77) Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1932-1967 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Pacific Air Forces Eighth Air Force 47th Air Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Air Medal (5) |
Hunter Harris Jr. (November 27, 1909 – March 5, 1987) was a United States Air Force four-star general who served as Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF) from 1964 to 1967.
Harris was born in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in 1909, the son of Lula Allen Harris and Hunter Harris, an army officer. He attended the Virginia Military Institute, the University of Georgia, and graduated from the United States Military Academy as a second lieutenant of Infantry on June 10, 1932 and was detailed to the Army Air Corps for pilot flight training at Randolph Field and Kelly Field, Texas. He became a rated pilot in October 1933 and was assigned to the Army Air Corps February 16, 1934, and was stationed at March Field, California, where he held various group and squadron positions.
In March 1937, Harris went to Nichols Field, the Philippines, for duty with the 28th Bomb Squadron, and later served at Clark Field. In March 1940 he was assigned to Bolling Field, and in December 1941 became assistant operations officer with the Air Force Combat Command Headquarters at Bolling Field.
Harris was assigned to the War Department General Staff in March 1942 and in October assumed command of a B-17 Provisional Group and later became commander of the 447th Bomb Group. In the fall of 1943 he took the 447th Group to England. General Harris assumed command of the 13th Combat Bomb Wing of the Eighth Air Force in September 1944, and then was assigned as deputy chief of staff for operations of the Third Bomber Division of the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater in December 1944. During this service in Europe, he flew 25 combat missions in B-17s totaling 200 hours, followed by a few P-51 missions.
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