Brigadier General CHARLES E. BISHOP

Brigadier General Charles E. Bishop is vice commander of 9th Air Force, Tactical Air Command, with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

General Bishop was born in East Millinocket, Maine, in 1930. He graduated from Guilford (Maine) High School in 1948 and from Coburn Classical Institute in Waterville, Maine, in 1949. In 1953 he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., with a bachelor of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He received a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1962. The general completed the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1973.

After earning his pilot wings at Greenville Air Force Base, Miss., in January 1955, his first operational assignment was with the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group at Naha Air Base, Okinawa. He served there until August 1957 as an F-86 pilot. Upon returning to the United States, he served as a T-33 instructor pilot at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. In June 1960 he began studies for his master's degree at the University of Colorado.

Upon graduation in June 1962, he was assigned to the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., as an instructor in the department of aeronautics. He went to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in May 1966 as an F-105 pilot with the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. During this assignment General Bishop served as squadron operations officer with the 67th and 12th Tactical Fighter Squadrons. He next went to Thailand where he was operations officer for the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base.

In April 1970 General Bishop was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as an operations staff officer in the Fighter Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Studies and Analysis. He attended the Air War College from June 1972 to June 1973. Upon graduation he was assigned to Vance Air Force Base, Okla., as deputy commander for operations, 71st Flying Training Wing. In July 1975 he became the base commander of Craig Air Force Base, Ala. He assumed command of the 29th Flying Training Wing at Craig in January 1976, and from May 1977 to March 1979, General Bishop commanded the 64th Flying Training Wing at Reese Air Force Base, Texas. He was then named commander of Tactical Training Holloman, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.

The general took command of the 23rd North American Defense Command Region and 23rd Air Division, Tactical Air Command, with headquarters at Duluth International Airport, Minn., in January 1980 and assumed his present duties in August 1981.

General Bishop is a command pilot with more than 4,800 flying hours, including 450 hours on 150 missions over North Vietnam and Laos. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters.

He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1979, with date of rank May 14, 1979.

(Current as of November 1981)