Thomas S. Power
| Thomas S. Power | |
|---|---|
General Thomas Sarsfield Power
|
|
| Born | June 18, 1905 New York City, New York |
| Died | December 6, 1970 (aged 65) Palm Springs, California |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1929–1964 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held | Strategic Air Command Air Research and Development Command |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Silver Star Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Air Medal (2) |
General Thomas Sarsfield Power (June 18, 1905 – December 6, 1970) was commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and an active military flier for more than 30 years.
Thomas Sarsfield Power was born in the Bronx, New York City in 1905, a child of Irish immigrants. His parents were Thomas, a dried goods salesman and Mary, who had arrived in the USA in 1900. His parents were from wealthy farming stock but the best land and its livestock was destined for others in Tipperary, Ireland.
Power attended Barnard Preparatory School in New York and entered the U.S. Army Air Corps flying school February 17, 1928. Upon graduation and receiving his rating, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in February 1929.
His early service included assignments at most of the famed Air Corps fields of the day – Chanute Field, Illinois, as a student officer at the Air Corps Technical School's maintenance engineer course; Langley Field, Virginia, as commanding officer of the 2d Wing headquarters detachment (1934); Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., for duty as an Army Air Corps Mail Operation (Eastern Zone) pilot (1934); engineering and armament officer of the 28th Bombardment Squadron at Nichols Field, Philippines; and at Randolph Field, Texas, as a flying instructor (1938–1940). He completed his early career at Maxwell Field, Alabama, as a student at the Air Corps Tactical School (1940–1941).
After the era of slow promotions during the inter-war years of the 1930s, Power experienced the rapid rise in rank common to many officers of the pre-war Air Corps during World War II, becoming a major in March 1941, a lieutenant colonel in January 1942, and a full colonel in June 1943 eight days after his 38th birthday.
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