Ford Larimore Fair was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, on July 9, 1898. He enlisted in the Army on April 10, 1917, and served as a private and sergeant in the Signal Corps at Kelly Field, Texas, until February 11, 1919. On August 31, 1925, he became a Flying Cadet and on September 14, 1926, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps Reserve. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Air Corps of the Regular Army on June 30, 1927.
SERVICE
Prior to his commission in the Regular Army he attended the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, and the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, completing both courses in 1926. In July 1927 he was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, as Assistant Engineer, Guard and Maintenance Officer of the 49th Bombardment Squadron, later becoming Communications, Transportation, Engineer and Guard Officer of the same squadron. In January 1929 he was transferred to Langley Field, Virginia, as Assistant Supply Officer and Adjutant of the 20th Bombardment Squadron and later became Supply, Operations, Engineer, and Inspecting Officer of the 59th Service Squadron, same station.
In October 1929 he was enrolled as a student at the Air Corps Technical School, Chanute Field, Illinois, where he completed the Maintenance Engineer Course the following April. He was then assigned to Fort Crockett, Texas, as Squadron Engineer Officer of the 60th Service Squadron and later served in the same capacity with the 90th Attack Squadron. In May 1932 he left the United States for duty at Fort Stotsenburg, Philippine Islands, where he became Engineer Officer, Station Inspector and Adjutant at Clark Field and with the 3rd Pursuit Squadron. After three years of foreign service, he returned to the United States in July 1935 to become a student at the Air Corps Tactical School, Maxwell Field, Alabama, and upon completion of the course in 1936 he enrolled for the course at the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was graduated in June of the following year.
In July 1937 he was assigned to Marshall Field, Fort Riley, Kansas, for duty with the 1st Observation Squadron. While at this station he served as Squadron Adjutant and Executive. In August 1940 he was transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for duty as Division Air Officer, 1st Armored Division, and five months later returned to Marshall Field. In February 1941 he was assigned to Langley Field, Virginia, as Group Material and Parachute Officer, 22nd Bombardment Group. He later became Group Executive Officer and Inspector, 13th Bombardment Group at the same station, after which he performed similar duties at Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, until November 1941. That same month he became Assistant Chief, Strategic Planning Section, Air War Plans Division, Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., and in March 1942 he joined the War Department General Staff as a Member, Troop Section, Logistics Group, Operations Division, later becoming Deputy Chief, Logistics Group.
In January 1943 he became Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, Mitchel Field, New York, and the following November spent a short period with the III Tactical Air Division, Thermal, California. In June 1944 he assumed command of the 313th Base Unit, Tactical Air Division, Esler Field, Louisiana, and later assumed command of the I Tactical Air Division at the same station. In May 1945 he assumed command of the III Tactical Air Command, Barksdale Field, Louisiana, later becoming its Deputy Commanding General.
He reverted to the rank of colonel on November 30, 1945, and later went overseas to Germany where he served as Chief of Staff of the European Air Transport Service.
Colonel Fair died on November 1, 1946, in the crash of a B-17 into Mont Blanc, France while on a flight from Naples, Italy to London, United Kingdom.
He was rated a Command Pilot, Combat Observer, and Aircraft Observer.
PROMOTIONS
Private and Sergeant, Signal Corps, April 10, 1917, to February 11, 1919. Flying Cadet, Air Service, August 31, 1925, to September 14, 1926; Second Lieutenant, Air Reserve, September 14, 1926; Second Lieutenant, Air Corps, June 30, 1927; First Lieutenant, November 1, 1933; Captain (temporary), March 15, 1935, to July 2, 1935; Captain, June 30, 1937; Major, A.U.S., January 31, 1941; Major (temporary), February 1, 1941; Lieutenant Colonel (temporary), January 5, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, A.U.S., February 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S. (Air Corps), March 1, 1942; Colonel, A.U.S., June 10, 1943; Major, June 30, 1944; Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 17, 1944; terminated Brigadier General, A.U.S., November 30, 1945; Colonel, A.U.S., June 10, 1943.