Glenn O. Barcus was born at Genoa, Ill., in 1903. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign in June 1924.
He was appointed a second lieutenant in the Cavalry Reserve Sept. 11, 1924, and in June 1925, received a Regular Army commission as second lieutenant in the Field Artillery. Returning to service with the Cavalry in September 1925, he joined the Second Cavalry at Fort Riley, Kan.
Second Lieutenant Barcus entered the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, in September 1926, and completed the course in February 1927. He then enrolled in the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. Following graduation, he was assigned to Selfridge Field, Mich., as operations officer for the 27th Pursuit Squadron. In October 1928, he returned to the Air Corps Primary Flying School as a flying instructor, and from October 1931 to March 1933, he was a flying instructor at Randolph Field, Texas. Then assigned to tactical duty, he was intelligence and operations officer for the 18th and 19th Pursuit Squadrons at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, from April 1933 to August 1935.
In September 1935, he became commanding officer of the 35th Pursuit Squadron, Eighth Pursuit Group, at General Headquarters Air Force, Langley Field, Va. In June 1939, he enrolled in the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Ala. Following graduation in September 1939, he returned to Langley Field as operations officer of the 22nd Pursuit Squadron.
In March 1941, Major Barcus went to Puerto Rico as plans and training officer for the Sixth Interceptor Command at Losey Field, Ponce, Puerto Rico. During the opening months of World War II, he was in command of the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Puerto Rico. Soon thereafter he became commander of the 36th Group and held that position until February 1942, when he went to Trinidad to help form the Interceptor Command. Leaving Trinidad in April 1942, he went to Washington as deputy director, Air Defense at Army Air Force Headquarters.
In December 1942, Colonel Barcus assumed command of the Philadelphia Air Defense Wing. He remained there until April 1943, when he became commander of the First Fighter Command at Mitchel Field, N.Y.
General Barcus went overseas in April 1944, proceeding to Naples, Italy, where he commanded the 64th Fighter Wing. In February 1945, he became commanding general of the 12th Tactical Air Command, with headquarters near Nancy, France. He remained in command of the 12th Tactical Air Command until ordered back to the United States in August 1946. In September he became chief of staff of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Field, and in March, 1947, was put in command of the 12th Air Force at March Field, Calif., remaining in command when it moved to Brooks Air Force Base, Texas.
General Barcus assumed command of the First Air Force at Fort Slocum, N.Y., in September 1949, and a month later moved with it to Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y. He became commanding general of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va., in July 1950. When Lieutenant General John K. Cannon assumed command of the Tactical Air Command in January 1951, General Barcus became his deputy commander. The following May he was named chief of staff of Tactical Air Command.
In June 1952, General Barcus was transferred to Korea where he assumed command of the Fifth Air Force. He remained there until the end of May 1953, when he returned to the United States to become vice commander, Air Training Command. He became commander-in-chief, U.S. Northeast Air Command, July 26, 1954, and was reassigned to Headquarters, United States European Command in April 1957, where he assumed the position of chief of staff.
EDUCATION
Genoa Township High School, Genoa, Ill. - 1920
University of Illinois (bachelor of science) - 1924
Air Corps Primary Flying School - 1927
Air Corps Advanced Flying School - 1927
Air Corps Tactical School - 1939
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF ASSIGNMENTS
1. 11 Sep 1924 second lieutenant, Cavalry Reserve
2. Jun 1925 second lieutenant, Field Artillery, Regular Army
3. 30 Sep 1925 second lieutenant Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kan.
4. 1927 operations officer, Selfridge Field, Mich., operations officer, 27th Pursuit Squadron
5. Oct 1928 flying instructor, Air Corps Primary School
6. Oct 1931-Mar 1933 flying instructor, Randolph Field, Texas
7. Apr 1933-Aug, 1935 intelligence and operations officer, 18th and 19th Pursuit Squadrons, Schofield Barracks, Territory of Hawaii
8. Sep 1935 commanding officer, 35th Pursuit Squadron, 8th Pursuit Group General Headquarters Army Air Force, Langley Field, Va.
9. Sep 1939 operations officer, 22nd Pursuit Squadron, Langley Field, Va.
10. Mar 1941 plans and training Officer, 6th Interceptor Command Losey Field, Ponce, Puerto Rico
11. Dec 1941 commanding officer, 22nd Fighter Squadron, Puerto Rico, commanding officer, 36th Group
12. Feb 1942 Interceptor Command, Trinidad
13. Apr 1942 deputy director, Air Defense, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C.
14. Dec 1942 commanding officer, Philadelphia Air Defense Wing
15. Apr 1943 commanding officer, 1st Fighter Command, Mitchel Field, N.Y.
16. Apr 1944 commanding officer, 64th Fighter Wing, Naples, Italy
17. Feb 1945 commanding general, 12th Tactical Air Command, Nancy, France
18. Sep 1946 chief of staff, Tactical Air Command, Langley Field, Va.
19. Mar 1947 commanding general, 12th Air Force, March Field, Calif.
commanding general, 12th Air Force, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas
20. Sep 1949 commanding general, 1st Air Force, Fort Slocum, N.Y.
commanding general 1st Air Force Mitchel, Air Force Base, N.Y.
21. Jul 1950 commanding general, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
22. Jan 1951 deputy commanding general, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
23. May 1951 chief of staff, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
24. Jun 1952 commanding general, Fifth Air Force, Korea
25. May 1953 vice commander, Air Training Command
26. 1 Jul 1954 commander, ATRC, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
27. 26 Jul 1954 commander-in-chief, Northeast Air Command, Newfoundland
28. Apr 1957 chief of staff, U.S. European Command, Paris, France
DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
Commendation Ribbon with metal pendant
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-Mediterranean Campaign Medal with five battle stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation, Japan
Korean Campaign with two battle stars
National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award with seven oak leaf clusters
French Croix de Guerre
British Companion of the Bath Order
Korean Order of Military Merit Taeguk
United Nations Service Medal