MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM E. EUBANK JR. William E. Eubank Jr., was born in Welch, W.Va., in 1912. He spent his early years in Bluefield, W.Va., where he graduated from Beaver High School in 1930. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va., where he majored in mining engineering. His military career began in February 1936 when he entered the Army Air Corps as a flying cadet at Randolph and Kelly fields, San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from advanced flying and was assigned to Barksdale Field, where he served with the 3rd Attack Group and the 27th Bomb Group. In October 1940, he was transferred to Lawson Field, Columbus, Ga., and to Hunter Field, Savannah, Ga., in May 1941. In November 1941, as commander of the 91st Bomb Squadron, General Eubank left the United States for the Philippines. He was stationed at Fort MacKinley in Manila at the outbreak of World War II. Shortly after war was declared, the general moved with his squadron to Bataan Peninsula where it served as a provisional infantry company. He was moved to Corregidor and evacuated by U.S. Navy submarine to Java in February 1942. Upon the fall of Java he flew to India as part of General Brereton's staff to form the Tenth Air Force. The general served as assistant operations officer, Tenth Air Force, from March 1942 until November 1943, when he returned to the United States. From December 1943 to March 1945, he served with Headquarters U.S. Air Force as operations staff officer. In March, he was assigned to the Air Force School of Applied Tactics, Orlando, Fla., as an instructor and finally as school secretary. In 1947 he attended Armed Forces Staff College. General Eubank's assignment to the Strategic Air Command began in February 1948, when he was named commander of the 43rd Bomb Group, Tucson, Ariz. In August 1948, he assumed command of the 2nd Bomb Group and commanded this unit during its temporary duty in England and move to Chatham Air Force Base. In June 1950, he was assigned as executive officer, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, and in June 1951, was appointed chief, Operations Plans Division. In July 1953, he was appointed commander, 93rd Bomb Wing, Castle Chatham Air Force Base, Calif. In June 1954, the 93rd Bomb Wing, commanded by General Eubank, began conversion to B-47 medium bombers. This conversion was effected in record time and won for the wing the personal commendation of General Curtis E. LeMay, then commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command. In June 1955, still under the command of General Eubank, the 93rd Bomb Wing was the first SAC installation to receive the B-52 "Stratofortess" heavy bomber. The 93rd, while under General Eubank's command, participated in "Operation Jet Stream" in 1957, the first around-the-world jet flight. This flight resulted in the 93rd receiving the MacKay Trophy, the coveted Air Force award presented annually to the individual organization that makes the "most meritorious flight of the year. In April 1958, the general commanded a 93rd KC-135 flight that established two new world records -- a non-stop speed record from Tokyo to Washington, in 13 hours and 47 minutes, and an unrefueled jet distance record of 10,288 miles from Tokyo to the Azores. Upon his reassignment from Castle Chatham Air Force Base, Merced, Calif., to Nouasseur Air Base, Morocco, in July 1958, where he assumed command of the 4310th Air Division, General Eubank was honored by the citizens of the City of Merced and the State of California. Goodwin J. Knight, Governor of Calif., proclaimed June 28, 1958, "General Eubank Day." As 4310th Air Division commander, under SAC's Sixteenth Air Force at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, the general had operational control of Reflex Forces at Nouasseur, Ben Guerir and Sidi Slimane air bases in Morocco. General Eubank was appointed to his present position, deputy commander of the Second Air Force, Aug. 15, 1959. A rated command pilot, General Eubank has logged more than 4,500 flying hours, including 60 in combat. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal Philippine Defense Ribbon American Defense Service Medal American Theater Ribbon World War II Victory Medal Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters Air Medal with oak leaf cluster Philippine Campaign Medal with battle star East Indies Campaign Medal with battle star Legion of Merit UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES The general is a survivor of Bataan and Corregidor. (Current as of July 1962)