Major General Thomas Estes Moore is commander of Keesler Technical Training Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., the electronics training center of the U.S. Air Force.
General Moore was born in Lenoir, N.C., in 1912. He graduated from Colletsville High School, Colletsville, N.C., in 1930, and from Mars Hill Junior College, N.C., in 1932. In July 1933 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 22d Infantry Division as a student at the West Point Preparatory School, Fort McPherson, Ga. In 1934, as an aviation cadet, he attended primary and basic pilot training at Randolph Field, Texas, and pursuit training at Kelly Field, Texas. After completing the training program he was assigned to Selfridge Field, Mich.
He was a member of the famous 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field for almost four years. In June 1938 General Moore was stationed at Langley Field, Va., as supply officer and crew commander; and in 1939 he went to the Caribbean Air Command, where he performed pilot and squadron commander duties both in Panama and Puerto Rico. In November 1942 he was assigned to the 16th Bombardment Wing, Biggs Field, Texas, and became chief of staff and deputy commander. In October 1943 he became chief of staff, XX Bomber Command at Biggs Field.
In 1944 he was assigned to the Southwest Pacific area and served in China, Central Burma and the Eastern Mandates. As a B-29 pilot, General Moore flew seven missions over Japan. He participated in one of the longest raids during the war -- a raid which originated in Calcutta, India, and was made on Singapore. The floating dry dock in Singapore Bay was sunk along with a Japanese cruiser and many other docks were destroyed with destroyers and cruisers in their berths. In February 1945 General Moore became deputy chief of staff for operations, 58th Bombardment Wing, in the Marianas, and in November 1945 he returned with the 58th Wing to the United States.
From August 1946 to July 1947, he attended the first class of the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Field, Ala. He next served as assistant commandant technical schools, and commander, 3380th Technical Training Group, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. In July 1950 he entered the Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Va., and graduated in March 1951.
In April 1951 General Moore assumed duties as deputy chief of staff for operations, Third Air Force, South Ruislip, England. He went to Headquarters Air Training Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., in May 1954, and served as deputy chief of staff, programming, and later as deputy chief of staff, operations. He was project officer for the reorganization of the Air Training Command and the transfer of ATC headquarters to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. In June 1957 he was appointed chief of staff, ATC.
General Moore assumed duties as commander of Sheppard Technical Training Center in August 1959. While at Sheppard he was highly successful in organizing and putting into effect the Squadron Adoption Program which resulted in an outstanding community-public relations program. This unique program has received nationwide attention, including recognition by the Congress, and it is being considered for utilization at other Air Force bases.
In July 1963 he was transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C., where he was assigned as Director of Personnel Planning, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel. In November 1966 he assumed command of the Alaskan Air Command. In this capacity he also served as vice commander of the Alaskan North American Air Defense Command Region.
General Moore was assigned as commander, Keesler Technical Training Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in August 1969.
A command pilot, he has more than 6,000 flying hours in jet and conventional type aircraft. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal.
(Current as of Sept. 1, 1969)