Maj. Gen. Alvord Van Patten Anderson, Jr., was born at Miles City, Mont., in 1905. He received a presidential appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He graduated from the Academy in 1928, and has been a commissioned officer since that time.
He completed basic and advanced flying schools, and today is a rated command pilot, observer, navigator and bombardier, current in the C-45, C-54 and C-130 aircraft.
During the early years of his service he saw duty as a squadron adjutant, operations officer, squadron supply officer, flight commander, and squadron commander.
During World War II he flew B-24, B-25, and C-46 aircraft, and has 185 aerial combat missions to his credit.
In October 1941 he was assigned to duty in Newfoundland where he served as commander of the Anti-Submarine Command, North Atlantic Division. He served at that post until 1943.
Subsequent service during the World War II years for General Anderson was in the South Pacific, where he was chief of staff of the 54th Troop Carrier Wing.
Such activities earned General Anderson the Air Medal on Sept. 13, 1946, the citation reading: "For meritorious achievement while participating in sustained operational flight missions in the South West Pacific Area. These operations consisted of patrol and search missions and often involved landing in heavy areas within range of enemy fire to effect rescues of air area members forced down by hostile actions or operational failure."
He returned to the United States in 1946 and became a member of the staff and faculty at the Air Command Staff School at Maxwell Field, Ala. He served as chief of the Logistics Division of the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Field.
Among the military courses that he has completed are the Joint Staff Course, 1944; Air Command Course for Regular Officers, 1947; and the National War College, 1948.
In November 1948 he was assigned to duty with the U.S. Military Mission to Brazil. He became chief of Air Section, U.S. Military Mission to Brazil, a post he held until he returned to the United States in December 1951.
He became deputy commander of the Warner Robins Air Materiel Area and Robins Air Force Base Jan. 1, 1952. On March 1, 1954, he became director of personnel and support operations at Headquarters, Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
He returned to Robins Air Force Base to assume command of the Warner Robins Air Materiel Area Dec. 15, 1955, and is presently holding the position of Warner Robins Air Materiel Area commander.
General Anderson is a Rotarian, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has been a member of the Armed Services Committee of the Macon Chamber of Commerce since 1956. Also since 1956, he has been a member of the Macon United Givers Fund Board of Trustees and manager of the Defense Sales Division of the United Givers Fund.
General Anderson has also been active in scouting. In 1956 he was a member of the Executive Board, Central Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America. For two years, from 1957-58, he has been a member of the Advisory Committee to the Executive Board, Central Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America.
General Anderson is a rated command pilot, observer, navigator and bombardier with 185 aerial combat missions to his credit. He flew B-24's, B-25's, and C-45's during World War II. He is current in C-47, C-54, and C-130 aircraft.
EDUCATION
Graduate U. S. Military Academy with a bachelor's degree in military science, 1928-presidential appointment
Graduate Basic and Advanced flying schools
Cook and Bakers School, 1931
Celestial Navigation, 1937
Tactical Techniques, 1940
Joint Staff Course, 1944
Air Command Course for Regular Officers, 1947
National War College, 1948
ASSIGNMENTS
During the early years of his service he saw duty as a squadron adjutant, operations officer, squadron supply officer, flight commander, and squadron commander
Oct. 1941-1943 commander of the Anti-Submarine Command, North Atlantic Division, Newfoundland
1943-1946 chief of staff, 54th Troop Carrier Wing, South Pacific
1946-Nov. 1948 member of staff and faculty at Air Command Staff School, Maxwell Field, Ala., chief of Logistics Division of Air Command and Staff School
Nov. 1948-Dec. 1951 chief of Air Section, U.S. Military Mission to Brazil
1 Jan. 1952-1 Mar. 1954 deputy commander of Warner Robins Air Material Area and Robins Air Force Base
1 Mar. 1954-15 Dec. 1955 director of personnel and support operations, Headquarters Air Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
15 Dec. 1955 - present commander, Warner Robins Air Materiel Area, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 18 Jul 1944
Air Medal 13 Sep 1945
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster Sep 1945
Occupation Medal (Japan)
European Middle Easter Theater and Asiatic Pacific Ribbons
Philippine liberation Medal
Brazilian Ordem Do Merito Aeronsutico
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
A message from the Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, dated 3 Sep 1945, to all Unit Commanders, Far East Air Forces, stated: "Since you first assumed command of the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific, throughout the long period of your Pacific assignments, your initiative and ingenuity devised or perfected new techniques of air tactics which crushed the enemy's air power in that area and struck heavy blows at his use of the sea for reinforcing his own powerful garrisons. I recall particularly the bold and hazardous mission by which you flew a division into Papua to halt the encroachment of the Japanese on Fort Moresby. By the utmost efficiency in the use of your planes and men in campaigns against the enemy's island stronghold you caused such attrition on the Japanese air forces that you secured actual superiority of the air in the Southwest Pacific well before it could have been expected."
Air Medal Citation 13 Sep 1945 reads: "For meritorious achievement while participating in sustained operational flight missions in the Southwest Pacific Area, during which hostile contact was probable and expected. These operations consisted of patrol and search missions and often involved landing in heavy areas within range of enemy fire to effect rescues of air area members forced down by hostile action or operational failure."
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Rank Temporary PermanentSecond Lieutenant 9 Jun 1928First Lieutenant 4 May 1934Captain 9 April 1935 9 June 1938Major 1 Feb. 1941 9 June 1945Lieutenant Colonel 5 Jan. 1942Colonel 1 March 1942 2 April 1948Brigadier General 19 Nov. 1952 3 Dec. 1952Major General 1 Jul 1951