LIEUTENANT GENERAL ROY H. LYNN

Roy Henry Lynn was born in Soldier, Kan., in 1905. He graduated from high school there in 1922 and from the University of Kansas with a bachelor of science degree in 1928.

From 1924 to 1927, then Infantry Private Lynn served in the Kansas National Guard. In June 1928, he was appointed a flying cadet and upon graduation from flying school a year later was rated a pilot, commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve and assigned to active duty. He received his Regular commission as a second lieutenant of Air Corps, Oct. 5, 1929.

Lieutenant Lynn's first assignment as an Air Force Officer was as personnel adjutant and assistant communications officer at Dodd Field, San Antonio. In September 1931, he entered the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, and upon graduation in June 1932, was transferred to March Field, Calif.

During the following five years, Lieutenant Lynn was stationed at various Air Force installations in the United States, serving successively as communications officer for the Seventh Bomb Group and flight commander of the 31st and Ninth bomb squadrons. During this period he was promoted to captain in August of 1935. In June 1937 he went to the Panama Canal Zone to become communications officer for the 16th Pursuit Group.

In August 1939, Captain Lynn was named project officer for government furnished equipment at Wright Field, Ohio. In January 1942, he was appointed chief of the Communications Branch, Air Service Command at Patterson Field, Ohio, and in March 1943, Colonel Lynn became assistant communications officer for the AAF School of Applied Tactics at Orlando, Fla. In August 1943, he became communications officer for the 58th Bomber Wing at Marietta Army Air Field, Ga., and in September 1943, moved with it to Smoky Hill Army Airfield Kan. Two months later he was appointed communications officer for the 20th Bomber Command at Smoky Hill Army Airfield.

In March 1944, Colonel Lynn accompanied the 20th Bomber Command to India, and in August assumed command of the Third Tactical Air Force Detachment in the China-Burma-India Theater. In December 1944 he was named deputy commander of the Strategic Air Force Detachment in that Theater, and in July 1945 was given command of the 84th Air Depot there.

Colonel Lynn returned to the United States in December 1945 and two months later became deputy chief of staff of the Fourth Air Force at Hamilton Field, Calif. In June 1947 he entered the Naval War College at Newport, R.I., and graduated in May 1948. He then was assigned to the Directorate of Intelligence at Air Force headquarters.

In October 1948 he assumed command of the USAF Security Service at Arlington, Va., and in July 1949 moved with that organization to Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. In July 1950 he was appointed deputy director of the Armed Forces Security Agency at Washington, D.C. In February 1951 he assumed command of the Air Force Security Services at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas.

General Lynn became commanding general of the Japan Air Defense Force in March 1953 and was appointed vice commander of the Fifth Air Force in Japan in September 1954. On Sept. 15, 1955 he returned to Hamilton Air Force Base, Calif., to become commander of Joint Western Air Defense Force and commander, Western Air Defense Force. On Dec. 5, 1956 he was named vice commander of the Air Defense Command at Colorado Springs, Colo.

INTERESTS
General Lynn is a golfer, shooting in the mid-80s and also enjoys both hunting and deep-sea fishing. He prefers wingshooting with a shot gun as far as hunting is concerned, and likes deep-sea fishing off the West Coast and in the Panama Canal Zone area.

General Lynn is a Methodist.

DECORATIONS AND MEDALS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Victory Medal, World War II
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Most EXO of Britain
United Nations Service Medal
Emp Hon Comdr

OPINIONS, TASTES AND EVALUATIONS
General Lynn prefers what he refers to as "a general American diet." However his wife prepares excellent Mexican food which he enjoys frequently. He has no clothing preference other than that which suits the occasion. As far as housing is concerned, the general says, "I like a housing situation in which there is no grass to cut, no flowers to tend. I am not horticulturally minded."

The general prefers in the area of non-fiction reading periodicals of a news-slant nature, and in his fiction reading he keeps up pretty well with the "best seller" lists. He is fond of popular music, and particularly enjoys the old community sing where friends gather around the piano to sing the old-time favorites. The general prefers photographic art and photography is a minor hobby. In his collection of pictures, the greatest number are those he has taken of friends through the years. Most of the general's off duty travel is recreational in nature. He prefers the coastal climates both east and west.

The general requires a man to put forth what he calls "an honest effort within the framework of his capabilities." He demands integrity - integrity toward people and integrity toward the Air Force itself.

One of the general's colleagues says that: "In any group, General Lynn dominates the scene intellectually as he does physically. His years of experience in varied Air Force assignments provide a solid foundation for effective leadership in the key position he holds today."

UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES
During the 1938 earthquake in Chile, General Lynn flew from the Panama Canal Zone to Santiago for ten days to help in the disaster relief programs.

The general had a narrow escape when flying as a bombardier with General Stratemeyer as pilot in a B-10 aircraft. Coming back from a bombing mission over Muroc, the aircraft engines failed and it was necessary to ditch in San Pablo Bay at night. General Lynn was caught in the nose, standing neck-deep in the water, and it took better than three dives into the debris to get back through the passageway and out of the aircraft.