MAJOR GENERAL MANNING E. TILLERY

Manning Eugene Tillery was born in. Beaumont, Texas, in 1904, and graduated from high school there in 1922. He graduated from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1926 with a bachelor of science degree.

That June General Tillery received a Regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Corps, and completed his flying training a year later. Assigned with the Third Attack Group at Fort Crockett, Texas, in September 1928, he became a flying instructor at the Primary Flying School, Brooks Field, Texas, later serving in that capacity at Randolph Field, Texas. Entering the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, Ill., in October 1932, he graduated the following June and joined the 20th Pursuit Group at Barksdale Field, La. Going to Albrook Field in the Panama Canal Zone in May 1937, he served successively as base engineer officer, technical inspector and commander of the 15th Air Base Squadron.

Two years later General Tillery went to Wright Field, Ohio, as assistant chief of the Maintenance Branch, Materiel Division, Air Service Command, becoming chief of the branch in December 1941. A year later he was named executive officer of the Supply Division, Air Service Command, becoming chief of the Maintenance Division at Hill Field, Utah, in April 1943. The following March he assumed command of Depot Number Three, Fifth Air Force, in New Guinea, becoming commander of the Fifth Air Service Area Command in Australia three months later, and moving in that capacity to the Philippine Islands in October 1944. After being hospitalized from April to August 1945, he was deputy for supply of the San Antonio Air Materiel Area at Kelly Field, Texas, becoming assistant deputy commander in March 1947, and deputy commander the following May.

Going to Hawaii in February 1948, General Tillery was deputy chief of staff of the Hawaiian Air Materiel Area, becoming deputy commander of the Maintenance and Supply Division there in March 1948. Two months later he assumed command of the Pacific Air Depot at Hickam Field, and in June 1949 he became commander of the l500th Air Transport Wing there.

Returning to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in March 1951, General Tillery was deputy chief of the Production Resources Division, Air Materiel Command, becoming deputy chief of Supply and Maintenance, AMC, that September. Three months later he was redesignated deputy director of Supply, Services and Maintenance Engineering there, and in June 1952 he was named deputy director of Maintenance Engineering, AMC. He assumed command of the Ogden Air Materiel Area, AMC, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in January 1953.

General Tillery has been awarded the Legion of Merit. He is rated a command pilot.

(Up to date as of July 1955)