BRIGADIER GENERAL KYLE L. RIDDLE
Brigadier General Kyle L. Riddle is chief of staff, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, Texas.
General Riddle was born in Decatur, Texas, in 1913. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1931, the Decatur Baptist College in 1933, and, Texas A&M in 1937. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas, in March 1938, and received his pilot wings and second lieutenant commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve at Kelly Field, Texas, in February 1939.
His first assignment was to the 8th Pursuit Group at Langley Field, Va., in March 1939. In September 1939 he was transferred to Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, where he was assigned to pursuit and fighter organizations during three years assignment to the Panama and Caribbean commands.
From September 1942 to December 1943 he was assigned to the 4th Fighter Command. He served as squadron commander, group executive officer and group commander of combat replacement training units for P-38 pilots. In December 1943 General Riddle assumed command of the 479th Fighter Group, which was being trained as a combat group for the Eighth Air Force and was sent to England in May 1944. The group's first combat mission was flown May 21.
He was transferred to occupational forces duty in December 1945, and assigned as chief of staff of the 64th Fighter Wing, Bad Kissingen, Germany. He was returned to the United States in December 1946, and was a member of the first class to attend the Armed Forces Staff College in February 1947. Upon graduation he was assigned as headquarters commandant, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
In March 1949 General Riddle was assigned to Continental Air Command as chief of the Training Division of the Operations and Training Directorate. From September 1949 to June 1952 he served as chief, Operations and Training Division and deputy chief, Air Force Section, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Greece. He returned to the United States in June 1952 and attended the Air War College.
He was assigned to the Field Command, Armed Forces Special Weapons Command, Sandia Base, N.M., in July 1953 where he served as chief of Plans Division in the Deputy Commander for Operations Office for two years, then as assistant to the deputy commander of technical services, and as comptroller for approximately one year.
In August 1957 General Riddle assumed command of the 3560th Pilot Training Wing. In September 1959 he assumed command of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He became chief of staff, Seventeenth Air Force in July 1961, and later was named deputy commander.
General Riddle was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command as inspector general from July 1963 to August 1965 when he became the assistant deputy for operations, and from March 1966 to June 1966, he was the deputy chief of staff, Operations and Training. He became chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group-Japan in June 1966.
In July 1968 General Riddle assumed his duties as chief of staff, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force.
General Riddle is a command pilot. His military decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem and French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
(Current as of Sept. 15, 1968)
General Riddle was born in Decatur, Texas, in 1913. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1931, the Decatur Baptist College in 1933, and, Texas A&M in 1937. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas, in March 1938, and received his pilot wings and second lieutenant commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve at Kelly Field, Texas, in February 1939.
His first assignment was to the 8th Pursuit Group at Langley Field, Va., in March 1939. In September 1939 he was transferred to Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, where he was assigned to pursuit and fighter organizations during three years assignment to the Panama and Caribbean commands.
From September 1942 to December 1943 he was assigned to the 4th Fighter Command. He served as squadron commander, group executive officer and group commander of combat replacement training units for P-38 pilots. In December 1943 General Riddle assumed command of the 479th Fighter Group, which was being trained as a combat group for the Eighth Air Force and was sent to England in May 1944. The group's first combat mission was flown May 21.
He was transferred to occupational forces duty in December 1945, and assigned as chief of staff of the 64th Fighter Wing, Bad Kissingen, Germany. He was returned to the United States in December 1946, and was a member of the first class to attend the Armed Forces Staff College in February 1947. Upon graduation he was assigned as headquarters commandant, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
In March 1949 General Riddle was assigned to Continental Air Command as chief of the Training Division of the Operations and Training Directorate. From September 1949 to June 1952 he served as chief, Operations and Training Division and deputy chief, Air Force Section, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Greece. He returned to the United States in June 1952 and attended the Air War College.
He was assigned to the Field Command, Armed Forces Special Weapons Command, Sandia Base, N.M., in July 1953 where he served as chief of Plans Division in the Deputy Commander for Operations Office for two years, then as assistant to the deputy commander of technical services, and as comptroller for approximately one year.
In August 1957 General Riddle assumed command of the 3560th Pilot Training Wing. In September 1959 he assumed command of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. He became chief of staff, Seventeenth Air Force in July 1961, and later was named deputy commander.
General Riddle was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command as inspector general from July 1963 to August 1965 when he became the assistant deputy for operations, and from March 1966 to June 1966, he was the deputy chief of staff, Operations and Training. He became chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group-Japan in June 1966.
In July 1968 General Riddle assumed his duties as chief of staff, Headquarters Twelfth Air Force.
General Riddle is a command pilot. His military decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem and French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
(Current as of Sept. 15, 1968)