BRIGADIER GENERAL ETHELRED LUNDY SYKES

Ethelred Lundy Sykes was born in Rockmart, Ga., in 1905. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor of science degree in 1926 and the following year studied law there. From July 1927 to November 1940 he was an account executive with the Sparrow Advertising Agency in Birmingham, Ala. Meanwhile, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Engineer Reserve, Oct. 21, 1926, in the Air Reserve Aug. 27, 1930, and in the Air National Guard April 4, 1934.

Called to active duty in November 1940, General Sykes was operations officer of the 106th Observation Squadron at Birmingham, Ala., becoming operations officer of he 66th Observation Group at Jacksonville, Fla., in October 1941, and that December was named executive officer of the 71st Observation Group at Salina Field, Calif. Going to Air Corps headquarters in March 1942, the general was named assistant chief of the Observation Division, becoming assistant chief of the Air Support Branch a year later, and in July 1943 was appointed executive officer of the Unit Training Division.

Assigned as executive officer of the 21st Bomber Command at Salina, Kan., in March 1944, that September General Sykes went to the Pacific Theater with that unit, and served as liaison officer to the Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean Area until January 1945 when he became strategic plans officer of the 21st Bomber Command. That April he was appointed assistant deputy chief of staff for Plans of the 20th Air Force in the Pacific.

Reassigned to Air Corps headquarters in December 1945, the general served with the Strategy and Policy Division in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans, and the following July was named chief of the Mobilization Control Branch. Entering the Air War College at Maxwell Field, Ala., in July 1947, he graduated the following June and became assistant executive to the assistant secretary of the Air Force. That December he was named special military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force.

Given temporary duty with the Far East Air Forces in August 1950, General Sykes was a member of the U.S. Air Force Air Evaluation Group, analyzing Air Force operations in Korea, and also served as a special assistant to the commanding general, FEAF. Returning to Air Force headquarters in February 1951, he was designated special military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, and a year later he became chief of the Evaluations Branch the Directorate of Plans.

Entering the National War College in August 1952, the general graduated the following January and became assistant chief of staff for operations of the Alaskan Command at Fort Richardson, Alaska. On July 15, 1955, he was appointed deputy director of the budget in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller, at Air Force headquarters.

Joining the Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Neb., on Oct. 1, 1956, General Sykes was appointed assistant to the director of plans.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. He is rated a command pilot.

(Up to date as of October 1956)