MAJOR GENERAL PAUL F. PATCH
Major General Paul F. Patch is director of transportation for the U.S. Air Force. As director he is responsible for establishing major Air Force policy in the transportation field and for developing management controls and long range plans for the Air Force use of commercial air, trucks, buses, railroads, and pipelines.
General Patch was born in Denver, Colo. From 1939 to 1941, he attended the University of Denver, majoring in accounting, and in 1961 graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree. He has a master's degree from The George Washington University. His military career began as an aviation cadet in November 1941 and in July 1942 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings.
During World War II, General Patch was assigned to Randolph Field, Texas, as a basic flight instructor. Subsequently, he moved with the school to Independence, Kan. In 1944 he joined the 1st Troop Carrier Group and was on his way to India when the war ended. He was released from active military duty in December 1945 and flew for Pan American World Airways.
In December 1948 he returned to active duty with the Air Force for service in the Berlin airlift. Upon completion of the airlift, he remained in Germany with the 60th Troop Carrier Group, first as a pilot, later as group operations officer.
In February 1952 General Patch returned to the United States and was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service at Westover Air Force Base, Mass. His first duty was as project officer for "The Blue Plate Special," a weekly diplomatic flight from Washington, D.C., to Europe. Later he established the Westover Transport Control Center and in June 1955 became Chief of the Air Transport Control Center at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
General Patch attended the Air Command and Staff School, 1957-1958, and then was operations staff officer with the Transport Operations Division, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He attended the Air War College from August 1963 to June 1964. He next was assigned to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where he served as director of transportation. Subsequent duty assignments at PACAF headquarters were chief, Transportation Division, and chief, Logistics Plans Division, Directorate of Materiel.
In August 1967 General Patch returned to Washington, D.C., where he was chief, Plans Division, Office of the Special Assistant for Strategic Mobility, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He became deputy chief of staff for materiel, Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield, Republic of Vietnam, during August 1969.
General Patch assumed duties as deputy chief of staff for materiel, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in June 1970 where he remained until March 1972 when he became deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
In August 1973 General Patch became the director of transportation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to the grade of major general effective April 24, 1974, with date of rank July 1, 1971.
(Current as of Feb. 15, 1975)
General Patch was born in Denver, Colo. From 1939 to 1941, he attended the University of Denver, majoring in accounting, and in 1961 graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor's degree. He has a master's degree from The George Washington University. His military career began as an aviation cadet in November 1941 and in July 1942 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings.
During World War II, General Patch was assigned to Randolph Field, Texas, as a basic flight instructor. Subsequently, he moved with the school to Independence, Kan. In 1944 he joined the 1st Troop Carrier Group and was on his way to India when the war ended. He was released from active military duty in December 1945 and flew for Pan American World Airways.
In December 1948 he returned to active duty with the Air Force for service in the Berlin airlift. Upon completion of the airlift, he remained in Germany with the 60th Troop Carrier Group, first as a pilot, later as group operations officer.
In February 1952 General Patch returned to the United States and was assigned to the Military Air Transport Service at Westover Air Force Base, Mass. His first duty was as project officer for "The Blue Plate Special," a weekly diplomatic flight from Washington, D.C., to Europe. Later he established the Westover Transport Control Center and in June 1955 became Chief of the Air Transport Control Center at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.
General Patch attended the Air Command and Staff School, 1957-1958, and then was operations staff officer with the Transport Operations Division, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He attended the Air War College from August 1963 to June 1964. He next was assigned to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where he served as director of transportation. Subsequent duty assignments at PACAF headquarters were chief, Transportation Division, and chief, Logistics Plans Division, Directorate of Materiel.
In August 1967 General Patch returned to Washington, D.C., where he was chief, Plans Division, Office of the Special Assistant for Strategic Mobility, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He became deputy chief of staff for materiel, Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Airfield, Republic of Vietnam, during August 1969.
General Patch assumed duties as deputy chief of staff for materiel, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, in June 1970 where he remained until March 1972 when he became deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters Military Airlift Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
In August 1973 General Patch became the director of transportation, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to the grade of major general effective April 24, 1974, with date of rank July 1, 1971.
(Current as of Feb. 15, 1975)