BRIGADIER GENERAL JOSEPH MYERS
Brigadier General Joseph Myers is the Supreme Allied Commander Europe representative to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. The mission of this office is to coordinate the strategic target plans of Allied Command Europe with the JSTPS.
General Myers was born in Hazard, Ky., in 1918. He graduated from McKinley High School, Canton, Ohio, in 1937. He was attending Ohio State University when he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. He completed the aviation cadet program at Kelly Field, Texas in April 1942 and received a commission as second lieutenant and his pilot wings.
His first assignment was with the 55th Fighter Group, McChord Field, Wash., in September 1943. General Myers was reassigned to the Eighth Air Force in England. He completed three combat tours in the European Theater of Operations in three different types of fighter aircraft; the P-38, P-47 and P-51. He served as a deputy commander of a fighter group and is credited with the destruction of seven and one-half enemy aircraft in aerial combat, including the first jet aircraft shot down in World War II, an ME-262, in August 1944.
After the war, he served with the Army of Occupation until October 1947 when he was assigned as Deputy Commander of the 14th Fighter Group at Dow Air Force Base, Maine -- the first F-84 jet aircraft organization in the U.S. Air Force. He later became base commander and served in that capacity until the base was deactivated in 1950.
In February 1950 he was assigned to Headquarters First Air Force, Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y., as assistant deputy for material. When the Air Defense Command was reorganized he was transferred to the Eastern Air Defense Force, Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y., as assistant deputy for materiel.
General Myers was reassigned to Newcastle County Airport, Wilmington, Del., in September 1951 as commander of the 113th Fighter Group, and in January 1952 became deputy commander of the 4710th Defense Wing. While deputy commander of the wing, he received the Conspicuous Service Cross of the State of Delaware.
General Myers returned to Eastern Air Defense Force Headquarters as deputy chief of staff, personnel, in October 1953 and in January 1955 became commander, 64th Air Division, Pepperrell Air Force Base, Newfoundland. In February 1958 he assumed command of the 4751st Air Defense Wing (Missile), Hurlburt Field, Fla. He received the Legion of Merit for his work in the development of the IM-99 Bomarc interceptor missile.
In March 1962 General Myers moved to Headquarters Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo., as assistant deputy chief of staff, personnel. In August 1963 he became commander of the Los Angeles Air Defense Sector at Norton Air Force Base, Calif.
In July 1966 he went to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as deputy chief of staff, operations, for the Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force. His assignment included responsibilities for meteorological services, operational analysis, maneuver control, tactical evaluation, plans, intelligence, offensive operations, defensive operations, communications-electronics and the combat operations center.
General Myers assumed duties at Headquarters Strategic Air Command as supreme allied commander Europe's senior representative to the Joint Strategic Planning Staff in August 1969.
He is a command pilot and has been awarded the Missileman Badge. He has flown jets exclusively since 1947 and has been checked out in practically every jet aircraft in the Air Force inventory. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem, French Croix de Guerre, and Czechoslovakian War Cross 1939.
General Myers' hometown is Canton, Ohio.
He was promoted to the temporary grade of brigadier general effective Aug. l, 1966, with date of rank July 21, 1966.
(Current as of March 1, 1970)
General Myers was born in Hazard, Ky., in 1918. He graduated from McKinley High School, Canton, Ohio, in 1937. He was attending Ohio State University when he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941. He completed the aviation cadet program at Kelly Field, Texas in April 1942 and received a commission as second lieutenant and his pilot wings.
His first assignment was with the 55th Fighter Group, McChord Field, Wash., in September 1943. General Myers was reassigned to the Eighth Air Force in England. He completed three combat tours in the European Theater of Operations in three different types of fighter aircraft; the P-38, P-47 and P-51. He served as a deputy commander of a fighter group and is credited with the destruction of seven and one-half enemy aircraft in aerial combat, including the first jet aircraft shot down in World War II, an ME-262, in August 1944.
After the war, he served with the Army of Occupation until October 1947 when he was assigned as Deputy Commander of the 14th Fighter Group at Dow Air Force Base, Maine -- the first F-84 jet aircraft organization in the U.S. Air Force. He later became base commander and served in that capacity until the base was deactivated in 1950.
In February 1950 he was assigned to Headquarters First Air Force, Mitchel Air Force Base, N.Y., as assistant deputy for material. When the Air Defense Command was reorganized he was transferred to the Eastern Air Defense Force, Stewart Air Force Base, N.Y., as assistant deputy for materiel.
General Myers was reassigned to Newcastle County Airport, Wilmington, Del., in September 1951 as commander of the 113th Fighter Group, and in January 1952 became deputy commander of the 4710th Defense Wing. While deputy commander of the wing, he received the Conspicuous Service Cross of the State of Delaware.
General Myers returned to Eastern Air Defense Force Headquarters as deputy chief of staff, personnel, in October 1953 and in January 1955 became commander, 64th Air Division, Pepperrell Air Force Base, Newfoundland. In February 1958 he assumed command of the 4751st Air Defense Wing (Missile), Hurlburt Field, Fla. He received the Legion of Merit for his work in the development of the IM-99 Bomarc interceptor missile.
In March 1962 General Myers moved to Headquarters Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo., as assistant deputy chief of staff, personnel. In August 1963 he became commander of the Los Angeles Air Defense Sector at Norton Air Force Base, Calif.
In July 1966 he went to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as deputy chief of staff, operations, for the Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force. His assignment included responsibilities for meteorological services, operational analysis, maneuver control, tactical evaluation, plans, intelligence, offensive operations, defensive operations, communications-electronics and the combat operations center.
General Myers assumed duties at Headquarters Strategic Air Command as supreme allied commander Europe's senior representative to the Joint Strategic Planning Staff in August 1969.
He is a command pilot and has been awarded the Missileman Badge. He has flown jets exclusively since 1947 and has been checked out in practically every jet aircraft in the Air Force inventory. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 13 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation Emblem, French Croix de Guerre, and Czechoslovakian War Cross 1939.
General Myers' hometown is Canton, Ohio.
He was promoted to the temporary grade of brigadier general effective Aug. l, 1966, with date of rank July 21, 1966.
(Current as of March 1, 1970)
