BRIGADIER GENERAL DORR E. NEWTON JR.

Dorr E. Newton, Jr., was born in 1916 in Philadelphia, Pa., and attended Fay and St. Mark's Schools in Southborough, Mass. He graduated from St. Mark's in 1934 and went on to Princeton University. After a year in the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry (Pennsylvania National Guard), he enlisted as a flying cadet in June 1938. A year later he graduated from flying school at Kelly Field, Texas, was rated a pilot, and appointed a second lieutenant in the Air Reserve with active duty from May 1939. He received his regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Corps July 1, 1940.

General Newton's first assignment was as assistant adjutant in the 19th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field, Hawaii. He served in this group for 2 1/2 years in normal squadron duties, ending up as squadron commanding officer of the newly activated 44th Pursuit Squadron for a brief period. In October 1941 he was assigned to the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Luke Field, Ariz., as assistant section commander and in January 1942 became a section commander.

In August 1942 General Newton went overseas to England and North Africa as assistant A-3 in the newly activated Twelfth Air Force. In January 1943 he was appointed executive officer of the Bombardment Training Center, Northwest African Training Command. In April 1943 he was transferred to the 27th Fighter-Bomber Group as deputy group commander just as it entered combat. He assumed command of the 27th Group in August 1943 and participated in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns in that capacity. He was made a colonel in December 1943. In June 1944 he was appointed assistant chief of staff, A- 3, XII Tactical Air Command, and in August 1944, after the Southern France invasion, he was assigned the additional duty of acting deputy commander of XII TAC.

In July 1945 General Newton was assigned to Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters Army Air Forces, as assistant for Air Forces. In February 1946 he was sent to the University of Michigan for a course in Latin American affairs. In December 1946 he was ordered to Lima, Peru as assistant chief of the U.S. Air Force Mission to Peru. In October 1947 he was appointed chief of the U.S. Air Force Mission.

On return from Peru in 1949, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va. He graduated in February 1950 and was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as chief, Tactical Air Division, Directorate of Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff, Development. He entered the Air War College in August 1953, graduated in June 1954 and was appointed deputy commander of the Air Force Cambridge Research Center, Air Research and Development Command, Cambridge, Mass.

In August 1957 he was transferred to Headquarters ARDC as assistant deputy commander, resources. In February 1959 he became assistant vice commander for Headquarters ARDC and that October became deputy chief of staff for plans.

Joining the Air Force Logistics Command in June 1960, the general assumed duty as deputy commander of the San Antonio Area, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas.

Reassigned July 13, 1962 General Newton became deputy chief, Military Planning Office, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, with duty station at Bangkok, Thailand.

General Newton has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Commendation Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, the Presidential Unit Citation, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm and Star, and the Peruvian Cruz de Aviacion and pilot's wings.

He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his preparation of the Air Plan for the invasion of Southern France while serving as assistant chief of staff A-3, of XII Tactical Air Command.

His oak leaf cluster to the DFC was awarded for the destruction of two ME-109's near the Anzio beachhead. He was patrolling the area with eight A-36's when 15 or more ME's came down to bomb the invasion forces and was able to break up the enemy formation and destroy two of their aircraft while chasing them home.

He is rated a command pilot and technical observer.

(Up to date as of March 2003)