BRIGADIER GENERAL LUTHER WALLACE SWEETSER JR.
Luther W. Sweetser, Jr., was born in Boston, Massachusetts, May 21, 1908. He received his early schooling and was graduated from high school in Wakefield, Massachusetts, in 1926. He was graduated 1930, from Boston University where he completed a senior ROTC course and on May 31, 1930, was appointed a second lieutenant of Infantry in the Organized Reserve Corps.
General Sweetser then entered the Air Corps pilot training program. He was graduated from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in September, 1932, and transferred to from the Infantry to the Air Corps Reserve. After being rated a pilot, he remained on active duty with the Air Corps and trained in pursuit aviation for two years with the Air Corps units at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone. He was relieved of active duty in 1934.
From 1935 to 1940, he was Pacific Coast branch manager for Associated Aviation Underwriters of Los Angeles, California.
On July 15, 1941, General Sweetser was recalled to active duty as a staff officer at Army Air Corps headquarters. In July, 1942, he was transferred to the Eighth Air Force with which he served in Europe and Africa, later being assigned to the VIII Air Support Command in Africa. He served with the Command in various positions, including Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.
General Sweester was reassigned to AAF headquarters for duty in the Operations Division in the fall of 1943. In January, 1945, he was given temporary duty in the Far East Command as an observer of activities of the U.S. Navy Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet. During the latter part of 1945, he returned to AAF headquarters for duty as Chief of the Reserve and National Guard Division. He was released from active duty in May, 1946, with terminal leave until September, 1946.
He then returned to his position as Pacific Coast branch manager for Associated Aviation Underwriters and remained until recalled to extended active duty in August, 1950.
As a Reservist, General Sweetser was selected to command the 304th Bombardment Wing, VHB, later designated the 304th Air Division (VHB) of the Reserve composed of Reserve personnel. It was stationed at several air bases in the Southern California sector.
The 304th Air Division was inactivated in July, 1949, and then reorganized and redesignated the 452nd Bombardment Wing (L), with headquarters and component units stationed at Long Beach (California) Municipal Airport. General Sweetser was appointed commander of the wing, composed of Reservists from the Los Angeles (California) area.
In August, 1950, General Sweetser was recalled to extended active duty, retaining his position as commander of the 452nd Bomb Wing (L), which was integrated into the Air Force and stationed at George Air Force Base, California. The following October, he moved with the wing to Japan for assignment to the Far East Air Forces.
General Sweetser returned to the United States in May, 1951 for assignment to Fourth Air Force headquarters at Hamilton Air Force Base, California.
During World War II, General Sweetser flew 16 fighter reconnaissance missions and seven missions in C-47s with the Eighth Air Force and VIII Air Support Command.
He is rated a Command Pilot.
PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant, Infantry Reserve, May 31, 1930; transferred to Air Reserve, c. September 1932; First Lieutenant, Air Reserve, November 6, 1932; Captain, Air Reserve, December 7, 1938; Major, Air Reserve, February 24, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, Air Reserve, June 2, 1942; Colonel, Air Reserve, July 30, 1943; Brigadier General, Air Reserve, February 18, 1948.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Service Medal for Korea.
Up to date as of 3 July 1951.
General Sweetser then entered the Air Corps pilot training program. He was graduated from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in September, 1932, and transferred to from the Infantry to the Air Corps Reserve. After being rated a pilot, he remained on active duty with the Air Corps and trained in pursuit aviation for two years with the Air Corps units at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone. He was relieved of active duty in 1934.
From 1935 to 1940, he was Pacific Coast branch manager for Associated Aviation Underwriters of Los Angeles, California.
On July 15, 1941, General Sweetser was recalled to active duty as a staff officer at Army Air Corps headquarters. In July, 1942, he was transferred to the Eighth Air Force with which he served in Europe and Africa, later being assigned to the VIII Air Support Command in Africa. He served with the Command in various positions, including Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.
General Sweester was reassigned to AAF headquarters for duty in the Operations Division in the fall of 1943. In January, 1945, he was given temporary duty in the Far East Command as an observer of activities of the U.S. Navy Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet. During the latter part of 1945, he returned to AAF headquarters for duty as Chief of the Reserve and National Guard Division. He was released from active duty in May, 1946, with terminal leave until September, 1946.
He then returned to his position as Pacific Coast branch manager for Associated Aviation Underwriters and remained until recalled to extended active duty in August, 1950.
As a Reservist, General Sweetser was selected to command the 304th Bombardment Wing, VHB, later designated the 304th Air Division (VHB) of the Reserve composed of Reserve personnel. It was stationed at several air bases in the Southern California sector.
The 304th Air Division was inactivated in July, 1949, and then reorganized and redesignated the 452nd Bombardment Wing (L), with headquarters and component units stationed at Long Beach (California) Municipal Airport. General Sweetser was appointed commander of the wing, composed of Reservists from the Los Angeles (California) area.
In August, 1950, General Sweetser was recalled to extended active duty, retaining his position as commander of the 452nd Bomb Wing (L), which was integrated into the Air Force and stationed at George Air Force Base, California. The following October, he moved with the wing to Japan for assignment to the Far East Air Forces.
General Sweetser returned to the United States in May, 1951 for assignment to Fourth Air Force headquarters at Hamilton Air Force Base, California.
During World War II, General Sweetser flew 16 fighter reconnaissance missions and seven missions in C-47s with the Eighth Air Force and VIII Air Support Command.
He is rated a Command Pilot.
PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant, Infantry Reserve, May 31, 1930; transferred to Air Reserve, c. September 1932; First Lieutenant, Air Reserve, November 6, 1932; Captain, Air Reserve, December 7, 1938; Major, Air Reserve, February 24, 1942; Lieutenant Colonel, Air Reserve, June 2, 1942; Colonel, Air Reserve, July 30, 1943; Brigadier General, Air Reserve, February 18, 1948.
DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Service Medal for Korea.
Up to date as of 3 July 1951.
