MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE ROBERT ACHESON
Retired
February 01, 1959
Died August 17, 1989
George Robert Acheson was born in Lewiston,
Maine in 1904. He attended the University of Maine and enlisted in the Army as a
private February 7, 1925.
After serving with the 24th Pursuit Squadron at
France Field, Panama Canal Zone, he was appointed a flying cadet in the Air
Service and began primary flying training at Brooks Field, Texas, in March 1926.
In September of that year he went to Kelly Field, Texas, for advanced flying
training, completed the course, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the
Air Reserve February 28, 1927. The following June he was appointed a second
lieutenant of Air Corps in the regular army and assigned with the 3rd Attack
Group at Fort Crockett, Texas. In October 1927, he became squadron maintenance
inspector of the 8th Attack Squadron at Fort Crockett and later served there as
post and group personnel adjutant of the 3rd Attack Group.
Becoming a
flying instructor at the Brooks Field Primary Flying School in September 1929,
in October 1931 General Acheson assumed duties at Randolph Field, Texas. He
entered the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, Illinois, in September 1932
and completed the armament course the following March. He then became squadron
adjutant of the 99th Observation Squadron at Mitchel Field, New
York. In January 1934
he joined the 8th Pursuit Group at Langley Field, Va. After a tour of duty as an
air mail pilot with the Army Air Corps mail operations, from February to May
1934, he returned to the 99th Observation Squadron.
The following
January General Acheson began a special training in advanced air navigation with
the 19th Bombardment Group at Rockwell Field, California, and the following March
returned to Mitchel Field as intelligence and operations officer of the 1st
Bombardment Squadron. Going to Hawaii in July 1937, he served at Schofield
Barracks as intelligence and operations officer of the 26th Attack Squadron. In
November 1938 he became commanding officer of that unit and subsequently
commanded the 86th Observation Squadron there.
Joining the 43rd
Bombardment Squadron at MacDill Field, Florida, in August 1940, General Acheson
assumed command of the 67th Bombardment Squadron in May 1941. The following
September he became materiel officer for the 1st Air Support Service Command at
Pope Field, N.C. In July 1942 he was appointed supervisor of training of the
officers training unit at Barksdale Field, Lousiana, and later served as assistant
chief of the air staff for operations of the 3rd Bomber Command at MacDill
Field. He was named commanding officer of the 55th Bombardment Wing at MacDill
Field in June 1943, and the following January went to the North African theater
of operations as commander of that wing.
Assigned to command the War
Department Personnel Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in June 1945, three
months later General Acheson was assigned to Army Air Force Headquarters with
temporary duty at Fort Logan, Colorado, with the War Department Officer's Screening
Board. In May 1946 he was assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force, with Headquarters at
Leyte, Philippine Islands, and two months later became its chief of staff. In
March 1947 he was assigned to the Far East Air Material Command with detached
service as commanding general of the Philippine Air Material Area. The following
month the Philippine Air Material Area was redesignated the 4th Air Depot. In
October 1947 he was appointed chief of staff of the Fifth Air Force, with
Headquarters at Nagoya, Japan.
Named deputy for materiel of the
Continental Air Command in June 1940, with Headquarters at Mitchel Air Force
Base, New York, the following November he was appointed deputy commander of the
Eastern Air Defense Force there, assuming command of the Central Air Defense
Force at Kansas City, Missouri, in March 1951. In February 1953 General Acheson was
appointed commanding general of the Alaskan Air Command, with Headquarters at
Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and February 1, 1956 became commander, Middletown
air materiel area, Air Material Command, Olmstead Air Force Base, Middletown,
Pennsylvania.
His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of
Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is
rated a command pilot.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
He was promoted to first lieutenant (permanent) November l, 1933; to captain
(temporary) April 20, 1935; to captain (permanent) June 30, 1937; to major
(temporary) January 31, 1941; to lieutenant colonel (temporary) January 5, 1942; to.
colonel (temporary) March 1, 1942, to major (permanent) June 30, 1944; to
brigadier general (temporary) September 11, 1944; to colonel (permanent) April 29
1948; to brigadier general (permanent) January 27, 1950; to major general
(temporary) April 11, 1951; to major general (permanent) October 27, 1954.