BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN M. SCHWEIZER JR.

John Mel Schweizer Jr. was born in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1906. He attended Occidental College there and graduated in 1929. He entered Army Air Corps Primary Flying School, March Field, Calif., in October 1929, graduated from advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1930, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Reserve. He spent the next two years on active duty with the Third Attack Group at Galveston, Texas.

From 1932 to 1935 General Schweizer was an aviation advisor and flying instructor for the National Government of the Republic China, as a member of an American group that went to China to organize and train an air force for Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek.

Returning to the United States in the summer of 1935, he joined the 93rd Observation Squadron at Crissy Field, Calif., remaining until the spring of 1936 when he went on inactive duty and joined American Air Lines as a pilot. From January 1937 to May 1942 he was employed by the Humble Oil and Refining Company of Houston, Texas -- first as chief pilot and then as manager of aviation sales.

Recalled to active duty as a captain in the Air Force Reserve, General Schweizer served between September 1942 and January 1944 as a group commander in the Advanced Twin Engine Flying School at Ellington Field, Texas, attended the B-24 Transition School at Smyrna, Tenn., then was named director of flying and subsequently director of training at the B-24 Transition School at Tarrant Field, Fort Worth, Texas.

He served as deputy assistant chief of staff, A-3, Army Air Forces Central Flying Training Command, Randolph Field, Texas, from January l944 to April 1945, when he was reassigned to the Sixth Air Force at Albrook Field, Canal Zone as deputy chief of staff and acting chief of staff. In June l946 he returned to his former position with the Humble Oil and Refining Company.

General Schweizer accepted a regular commission in the Air Corps in July 1946 and served as commanding officer of Waller Air Force Base, Trinidad, British West Indies, until April 1948, when he was assigned to U.S. Air Force headquarters, Washington, D.C., as executive to the director of intelligence. In 1950 he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., and after graduation he was assigned to Tactical Air Command headquarters as deputy chief of staff for intelligence.

He was appointed assistant chief of staff for intelligence, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, in January 1953. General Schweizer was named assistant chief of staff for intelligence, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe at Paris, France, on May 10, 1954.

He is rated a command pilot.

(Up to date as of May 1954)