Major General CHARLES F. BORN

Charles F. Born was born in Racine, Wis., in 1903. He entered the U.S. Military Academy in July 1924, and while there won an All-American rating in lacrosse, was chosen an All-American football player in 1925-6-7, and played hockey. He graduated June 9, 1928, was commissioned a second lieutenant of Cavalry and assigned at Fort Meade, S.D., where he served with the Fourth Cavalry until 1933, with the exception of four seasons as assistant football coach at the academy.

In February 1933, General Born entered the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas, and following graduation attended the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. Upon completion of that course, in February 1934, he went to Luke Field, Hawaii, to join the 72nd Bombardment Squadron. On April 23, 1934, he transferred from the Cavalry to the Air Corps.

General Born, in August 1934, became assistant supply officer and assistant engineering officer of the Hawaiian Air Depot at Luke Field and two years later was appointed commanding officer of the 50th Observation Squadron there. In June 1937, he returned to the U.S. Military Academy as an instructor in general military law, remaining until May 1939, when he entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Ala. Following his graduation in August, he resumed his duties as an instructor at the academy.

In July 1940, General Born became commanding officer of the Fifth Bombardment Squadron at Mitchel Field, N.Y., and in August 1941, was named commanding officer of the Ninth Bombardment Group at Rio Hato, Panama. He later was assigned to the Sixth Fighter Command at San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in May 1942, resumed his duties as commanding officer of the Ninth Bombardment Group, which had moved to the British West Indies.

The following year General Born assumed command of the Army Air Forces in the Antilles Command and soon thereafter was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations and training of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force. When the 12th Bomber Command of that Air Force became the 15th Air Force, he became its assistant chief of staff for operations and training and directed its operations against Germany. In October 1944, he was named deputy commander of the 15th Air Force, then stationed in Bari, Italy.

In March, 1945, General Born was assigned to Air Force headquarters at Washington and later that month became chief of operations and training of the Continental Air Forces at Bolling Field, D.C. In October, 1945, he was named director of separations at Air Force headquarters, and the following January was appointed chief of staff of the Continental Air Forces.

In March, 1946, he became commanding general of the Second Air Force at Colorado Springs, Colo., retaining this position when the Second was redesignated the 15th Air Force. General Born was appointed chief of staff of Tactical Air Command at Langley Afield, Va., in April, 1947, and four months later was named deputy commanding general of the Indoctrination Division of Air Training Command, with station at Lackland Field, Texas. In September, 1948, he became commanding general of the 3700th Basic Training Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, and the following month assumed command of the Indoctrination Division of Air Training Command there.

In May 1949, General Born was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Wiesbaden, Germany, as deputy chief of staff for operations. In January 1951, he became deputy for operations, Air Training Command, with headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

General Born assumed command of the 3600th Flying Training Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., in November 1952. In August 1953, he became vice commander of the Crew Training Air Force at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and in October of that year assumed command.

General Born has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and is an honorary Knight Commander of the Bath of the British Empire. He is rated a senior pilot.

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
He was promoted to first lieutenant (permanent) March 1, 1934; to captain (temporary) March 12, 1935. He reverted to the rank of first lieutenant June 16, 1936, and was promoted to captain (permanent) June 9, 1938; to major (temporary) Feb. 1, 1941; to lieutenant colonel (temporary) Jan. 5, 1942; to colonel (temporary) March 1, 1942; to brigadier general (temporary) March 25, 1943; to major (permanent) June 9, 1945; to major general (temporary) July 9, 1946. He reverted to the rank of brigadier general (temporary) May 15, 1947, and was promoted to colonel (permanent) April 2, 1948. He was promoted to major general (temporary) Dec. 15, 1953.


(Current as of December 1953)