MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD H. WHITE

Edward Higgins White was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., in l901. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on June 12, 1924, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps and went to Brooks Field, Texas to attend primary and advanced flying schools.

In June 1925 General White entered the Balloon and Airship School at Scott Field, Ill., from which he graduated with the ratings of balloon and airship pilot and balloon observer. He remained at the school as an instructor after his graduation until ordered to Kelly Field, Texas, in June 1929, to complete flying training. He was rated a pilot in June 1930 and remained at Kelly Field as assistant post adjutant of the Air Corps Training Center.

General White was assigned in May 1931 to Wheeler Field, Hawaii as a squadron commander and adjutant of the 18th Pursuit Group. In July 1933 he entered the Army Industrial College and on completing the course in April 1934 was transferred to Chicago as a procurement planning representative. In June 1935 the general entered Harvard University and two years later received a master of business administration degree. He then became assistant budget officer at Air Materiel Command headquarters at Wright-Patterson Field, Ohio.

From September 1939 until March 1940 General White was assigned to Air Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., as assistant budget officer. He attended the Air Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Ala., from March to June 1940 and then returned to Wright-Patterson as budget officer. In January 1943 he became chief budget officer for Air Materiel Command.

General White went to Air Corps headquarters in August 1944 as deputy chief of a branch in the Budget Office, and became assistant budget officer in February 1946. In November 1947, after U.S. Air Force headquarters was established, he became assistant comptroller and three months later was appointed director of the budget. In January 1949 he was reappointed assistant comptroller.

Relieved of duty as assistant comptroller in May 1949, two months later the general became commanding general of the 1503rd Air Transport Wing of Military Air Transport Service at Tokyo, Japan. In July 1951 he became chief of the Army-Air Force Exchange Service in New York City.

Joining the Air Training Command on Sept. 1, 1954, General White assumed command of the 3750th Technical Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

His decorations include the Legion of Merit. He is rated a command pilot, airship pilot, balloon pilot, aerial observer, combat observer and balloon observer.

(Up to date as of September 1957)