Born on December 20, 1918, at Waukesha, Wisconsin, Collins H. Ferris graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1949 with a Bachelor of Law degree. Prior to that he served in World War II in the United States and England flying 35 combat missions in A-26s as a squadron commander in the 416th Bomb Group. Ferris earned the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, six Air Medals and the French Croix de Guerre. He left the service in September 1945 as a lieutenant colonel. He joined the Wisconsin National Guard as commanding officer of the 128th Fighter Wing and, during the Korean War, was on active duty as vice commander of the 35th Air Division and deputy commander of the 315th Troop Carrier Wing in Japan. Since 1953 he had been back in the Wisconsin Air National Guard as Chief of Staff, with promotion to brigadier general in August 1956, and to major general in August 1962. He retired as Chief of Staff of the Wisconsin Air National Guard on June 30, 1970.
On October 16, 1999, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame.
Reference:
Dupre, Flint O., Col. USAFR., USAF Biographical Dictionary (1965) – Ferris, p. 76 (supplemented by period newspaper articles).