MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM THOMAS DALY

Major General William Thomas Daly is deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence, and also senior United States Representative, Allied Forces Central Europe.

General Daly was born in Eureka, Calif., in 1916. He graduated from Humboldt State College, Arcata, Calif., in 1938 with a bachelor of science degree in education. He later attended the University of Southern California where he received his master's degree in education. In March 1941 General Daly entered military service in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. Upon completion of his pilot training in November 1941 he was commissioned a second lieutenant.

During World War II, he served as a pilot and flight instructor. From January 1946 to June 1948, he served with the Caribbean Defense Command, Panama Canal Zone. In 1949 he was assigned to the Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where he was director of the Academic Instructors School with the responsibility for training all Air Force service school instructors. During his last year at the Air University he was deputy director of the Field Officer Course at the Air Command and Staff School.

General Daly was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in January 1952. He was initially a staff planning officer in the Directorate of Plans but later moved to the Strategic Studies Branch. He then became executive officer to the deputy chief of staff, operations, a post he held for more than two years. In 1956 he graduated from the Air War College and was assigned as commander of the 316th Air Division, Rabat, Morocco. He later served as deputy director of the Morocco Liaison Office for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. In July 1957 he became executive officer to the commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, at Wiesbaden, Germany, and in 1958 became chief of staff.

Upon his return to the United States in March 1960 General Daly assumed command of the 4500th Air Base Wing, Langley Air Force Base, Va. In October 1961 he became commander of the 464th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

During July and August of 1962, General Daly spent two temporary-duty tours in Southeast Asia with units of his command and in April of 1963 led one of his squadrons to South Vietnam where he flew a number of combat-support missions with his aircrews. He was awarded the Air Medal for his airmanship there.

Upon activation of the Tactical Air Command's 838th Air Division at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in July 1963, General Daly was named commander. In August 1964 he became deputy for operations at Headquarters, Ninth Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. He remained there until September 1966 when he was assigned to India as chief, U.S. Military Supply Mission. General Daly went to Allied Forces Central Europe in August 1967 to assume duties as deputy chief of staff, operations and intelligence, Allied Forces Central Europe and also as senior U.S. representative to the headquarters.

He is a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours in conventional and jet aircraft as well as helicopters. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal and Air Force Commendation Medal. He attended the U.S. Army's 82d Airborne Division Jump School and is a parachutist.

(Current as of Dec. 1, 1968)