- Thomas D. White
Infobox Military Person
name= Thomas D. White
lived= 1902- December 22, 1965
placeofbirth= Walker,Minnesota
placeofdeath=
caption= US Air Force Photo
nickname=Hap
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch= air force|United StatesUnited States Army
serviceyears=1921–1961
rank= General
commands=Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Fifth Air Force Seventh Air Force
unit=14th Infantry Division
battles=World War II
awards=Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (2)Air Medal (2)
laterwork=General Thomas Dresser White (1902–
December 22 ,1965 ) was the fourthChief of Staff of the United States Air Force .White was born in Walker, Minnesota, in 1902. Upon graduation from the
United States Military Academy on July 2, 1920, he was commissioned aSecond Lieutenant ofInfantry and immediately promoted toFirst Lieutenant .Entering the Infantry School at
Fort Benning, Georgia , White graduated in July 1921, and was assigned duty with the 14th Infantry atFort Davis ,Panama Canal Zone .In September 1924, he entered Primary Flying School at Brooks Field,
Texas . He graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in September 1925, and was assigned duty with the 99th Observation Squadron at Bolling Field,Washington, D.C. .In June 1927, White was assigned to duty as a student of the
Chinese language inPeking ,China . Four years later, he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters Air Corps, Washington, D.C.White was named assistant military attache for air to
Russia in February 1934. A year later, he was appointed assistant military attache for air toItaly andGreece , with station atRome .White graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field,
Alabama , in May 1938. He then enteredCommand and General Staff School atFort Leavenworth , Kansas. Upon completion of this training, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C.In April 1940, White became military attache to
Brazil and the following August was named chief of the U.S. Military Air Mission to Brazil.Returning to the United States in March 1942, White was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations of the
Third Air Force atMacDill Field ,Tampa, Florida , and subsequently named chief of staff.Reassigned to Air Force Headquarters in January 1944, he became assistant chief of air staff for intelligence.
Proceeding to the Southwest Pacific in September 1944, White assumed duty as the deputy commander of the
Thirteenth Air Force , taking part in theNew Guinea , SouthernPhilippines andBorneo campaigns. The following June, he assumed command of theSeventh Air Force in theMarianas and immediately moved with it toOkinawa . In January 1946, he returned with the Seventh Air Force toHawaii . That October, he was appointed chief of staff of thePacific Air Command inTokyo, Japan . One year later, in October 1947, White took command of theFifth Air Force inJapan .Transferred to the Office of the
Secretary of the Air Force in October 1948, White became director of the Legislation and Liaison. He was appointed, in May 1950, Air Force Member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee in the Office of theJoint Chiefs of Staff . He was assigned as director of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, in February 1951, and in July 1951, assumed duties of deputy chief of staff of operations for the Air Force.White was promoted to the rank of
General onJune 30 ,1953 , and designated Vice Chief of Staff at that time, becoming Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force onJuly 1 ,1957 . He retiredJune 30 ,1961 .His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal,
Legion of Merit withoak leaf cluster andAir Medal with oak leaf cluster.He retired on
June 30 ,1961 and died onDecember 22 ,1965 .ource
* [http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7576 Public domain biography provided by the United States Air Force]
Persondata
NAME= White, Thomas Dresser
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=FourthChief of Staff of the United States Air Force
DATE OF BIRTH= 1902
PLACE OF BIRTH=Walker,Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH=December 22 1965
PLACE OF DEATH=
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