Storied leaders have led mighty 1st

  • Published
  • By 1st Fighter Wing
  • History Office
The list of commanders of the 1st Pursuit Group and 1st Fighter Wing reads like a "Who's Who of the Air Force," and includes aviation pioneers, wartime heroes and future Air Force chiefs of staff.

Group Commanders and Dates Assigned

Maj. Bert M. Atkinson, May 5, 1918
Maj. Harold E. Hartney, Aug. 21, 1918
Lt. Col. Davenport Johnson, Aug. 22, 1919
Capt. Arthur R. Brooks, June 29, 1920
Maj. Carl Spaatz, Oct. 5, 1920
Capt. Arthur R. Brooks, April 25, 1921
Maj. Carl Spaatz, Dec. 21, 1921
Maj. Thomas G. Lanphier, September 1924
Capt. Vincent B. Dixon, Feb. 4, 1926
Maj. Thomas B. Lanphier, June 26, 1926
Maj. Ralph Royce, Aug. 25, 1928
Lt. Col. Charles H. Danforth, c. 1930
Maj. Gerald E. Brower, c. 1930
Maj. Adlai H. Gilkeson, July 18, 1932
Maj. George H. Brett, Oct. 7, 1932
Lt. Col. Frank M. Andrews, July 11, 1933
Maj. Ralph Royce, Oct. 4, 1934
Maj. Edwin J. House, April 30, 1937
Col. Henry B. Clagett, c. 1938
Col. Lawrence P. Hickey, c. 1939
Lt. Col. Robert S. Israel, July 1941
Maj. John O. Zahn, May 1, 1942
Col. John N. Stone, July 9, 1942
Col. Ralph S. Garman, Dec. 7, 1942
Maj. Joseph S. Peddie, Sept. 8, 1943
Col. Robert B. Richard, Sept. 19, 1943
Col. Arthur C. Agan Jr., Nov. 15, 1944
Lt. Col. Milton H. Ashkins, March 31, 1945
Lt. Col. Charles W. Thaxton, April 11, 1945
Col. Milton H. Ashkins, April 28, 1945
Col. Bruce K. Holloway, July 3, 1946
Col. Gilbert L. Meyers, Aug. 20, 1946
Col. Frank S. Perego, January 1948
Lt. Col. Jack T. Bradley, July 1950
Col. Dolf E. Muehleisen, June 1951
Col. Walker M. Mahurin, 1951
Capt. Robert B. Bell, January 1952
Col. Norman S. Orwat, 1955
Col. John D. W. Haesler, by March 1958
Col. Edward S. Popek, July 1, 1960
Col. Wallace B. Frank, by September 1960

Wing Commanders and Dates Assigned
Col. Carl J. Crane, Aug. 15, 1947
Col. Elvin F. Maughn, Jan. 19, 1948
Col. Clifford H. Rees, May 17, 1948
Col. Joseph H. Davidson, Jan. 13, 1949
Col. George McCoy Jr., June 14, 1949
Col. William L. Lee, Aug. 19, 1949
Col. Wiley D. Ganey, Jan. 4, 1950
Brig. Gen. Donald R. Hutchinson, c. Oct. 17, 1950
Col. Dolf E. Muehleisen, Dec. 14, 1950
Col. Robert F. Worley, c. June 1951
Col. Glenn E. Duncan, Oct. 18, 1956
Col. Charles D. Sonnkalb, c. August 1959
Col. George J. LaBreche, c. December 1960
Col. Ralph G. Taylor Jr., June 15, 1962
Col. Converse B. Kelly, Sept. 16, 1963
Col. Kenneth E. Rosebush, c. August 1966
Col. Taras T. Popovich, April 29, 1968
Col. Morris B. Pitts, c. Oct. 31, 1969
unknown, c. Dec. 31, 1969
Col. Mervin M. Taylor, January 1970
Col. Travis R. McNeil, Oct. 1, 1970
Col. Robert F. Titus, March 1, 1971
Col. Howard W. Leaf, May 6, 1971
Col. Walter D. Druen Jr., Nov. 1, 1971
Col. Sydney L. Davis, April 18, 1972
Col. Gerald J. Carey Jr., June 25, 1973
Col. Ernest A. Bedke, by June 30, 1975
Lt. Col. George H. Miller, July 1, 1975
Brig. Gen. Larry D. Welch, Aug. 1, 1975
Col. John T. Chain Jr., Aug. 1, 1977
Col. Neil L. Eddins, March 27, 1978
Col. Donald L. Miller, May 15, 1979
Brig. Gen. William T. Tolbert, Aug. 11, 1980
Brig. Gen. Eugene H. Fischer, Jan. 29, 1982
Brig. Gen. Henry Viccellio Jr., April 6, 1983
Col. Billy G. McCoy, May 31, 1985
Col. Buster C. Glosson, July 10, 1986
Col. Richard B. Myers, June 11, 1987
Col. John M. McBroom, Feb. 24, 1989
Col. David J. McCloud, June 27, 1991
Brig. Gen. Gregory S. Martin, June 15, 1993
Brig. Gen. William R. Looney III, May 23, 1995
Brig. Gen. Theodore W. Lay II, July 10, 1996
Brig. Gen. Gary R. Dylewski, Oct. 21, 1997
Brig. Gen. (S) Felix Dupré, April 7, 1999
Brig. Gen. (S) Stephen M. Goldfein, April 10, 2000
Brig. Gen. (S) Stephen J. Miller, Jan. 11, 2002
Brig. Gen. (S) Frank Gorenc, Sept. 2, 2003
Brig. Gen. (S) Burton M. Field, June 15, 2005