| Some of most famous USAF generals, aces were assigned to Westover |
| General Gillem was 57th AD commander from September 1961 to June 1963 and commanded 8th Air Force as a lieutenant general from April to July 1970. |
General LeMay flew record-setting KC-135 flight from base
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, who was Air Force vice
chief of staff at the time, flew a record-breaking
flight in a KC-135 tanker from Westover AFB to
Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 12, 1957.
Some people believe that General LeMay was
assigned to Westover as a commander.
Historical records show that while he was not in
command of any units at Westover, the pioneer
in aerial bombardment techniques during World
War II. was indeed assigned to Westover in the
early 1940s with the 34th Bombardment Group.
His office is rumored to have been in Bldg. 1100,
which today is the oldest building on the base.
After the war, he quickly rose through the ranks
to build the Strategic Air Command into the
world's most powerful military force. He no doubt
returned to his "old stomping ground" years later
during one of his spot check ORIs, probably more
than once.
One thing is clear from the history of General
LeMay and Westover -- he had to have advocated
the base. For it was during his tenure as SAC
commander in chief (CINCSAC) that Westover
became a major SAC installation.
The cigar-smoking four-star's "take no prisoners"
approach to building SAC into an aerial
powerhouse earned him a reputation of being
tough but fair. He was SAC commander from
1948 to 1957, then Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
from 1957 to 1960, when President John F.
Kennedy chose him to be Air Force Chief of Staff.
General LeMay retired from the Air Force in
1965. He died in March 1990.
chief of staff at the time, flew a record-breaking
flight in a KC-135 tanker from Westover AFB to
Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Nov. 12, 1957.
Some people believe that General LeMay was
assigned to Westover as a commander.
Historical records show that while he was not in
command of any units at Westover, the pioneer
in aerial bombardment techniques during World
War II. was indeed assigned to Westover in the
early 1940s with the 34th Bombardment Group.
His office is rumored to have been in Bldg. 1100,
which today is the oldest building on the base.
After the war, he quickly rose through the ranks
to build the Strategic Air Command into the
world's most powerful military force. He no doubt
returned to his "old stomping ground" years later
during one of his spot check ORIs, probably more
than once.
One thing is clear from the history of General
LeMay and Westover -- he had to have advocated
the base. For it was during his tenure as SAC
commander in chief (CINCSAC) that Westover
became a major SAC installation.
The cigar-smoking four-star's "take no prisoners"
approach to building SAC into an aerial
powerhouse earned him a reputation of being
tough but fair. He was SAC commander from
1948 to 1957, then Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
from 1957 to 1960, when President John F.
Kennedy chose him to be Air Force Chief of Staff.
General LeMay retired from the Air Force in
1965. He died in March 1990.
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay is shown at his desk in
this Air Force photo, taken circa 1956.
General LeMay later become Air Force
vice chief of staff, then chief of staff, in 1960.
this Air Force photo, taken circa 1956.
General LeMay later become Air Force
vice chief of staff, then chief of staff, in 1960.
| BRIG. GEN. EDWARD M. NICHOLS JR. |
| BRIG. GEN. JOHN C. MEYER |
| BRIG. GEN. ALVAN C. GILLEM II |
| Photos provided by Chris Miano, who worked in the 57th AD as a secretary under Brig. Gen. Donald W. Saunders, who was killed in a KC-135 crash near Westover in June 1958. Other information on these generals came from the Air Force Historical Research Division's web site. |
| General Meyer became CINCSAC just a few years after having left Westover. General Meyer was the 57th commander from September 1959 to September 1961. |
| General Nichols was commander of the 99th Bombardment Wing, then later 57th Air Division commander as well. |
| BRIG. GEN. HOWARD DAVIS General Davis was commander of the 57th Air Division from July 1963 to February 1964. Previously, the general had been chief of staff at HQ 8th Air Force. His third assignment at Westover was as vice commander of 8th in August 1968. He had been promoted to major general by that time. |
| BRIG. GEN. ALAN EDMONDS |
| General Edmonds commanded the 57th Air Division from August 1968 until July 1969, when the division inactivated. |