Chesley G. Peterson
Encyclopedia
Major General Chesley G. Peterson (1920–1990) was a career officer in the United States Air Force
. He was a fighter pilot in the European theater in World War II
who remained in the military after the war. Peterson is best known for his time as the commander of the famous 4th Fighter Group during 1942 - 1943.
in 1937. In 1939 he joined the Army Air Corps
and was selected for air cadet training, but was dismissed before graduation from flight school. He moved to Los Angeles after being dropped from flight school and was working at Douglas Aircraft when he became interested in flying for the Royal Air Force
who were at that time recruiting Americans to fight the Germans.
s made of volunteer American pilots. The Americans would fly Hurricanes and Spitfires against the Luftwaffe
. In time he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
, and given command of No. 71 Squadron. Flt. Lt. Peterson completed 42 missions while flying with the RAF. When he was given command of No. 71 Squadron he was only 21 years old and was the youngest squadron commander in the RAF.
When Peterson first joined the 4th Fighter Group, they were assigned the P-47 Thunderbolt, which was a radical change from the Spitfires the Eagle Squadron pilots had flown for the RAF. While flying a P-47 over the English Channel
, Peterson was forced to bail out at 500 ft above the water. His parachute failed, but miraculously Peterson survived both the fall and the dangerous Channel waters.
In January 1944, Chesley Peterson was reassigned to the VIII Fighter Command
as a staff officer and then to a subordinate unit of VIII Fighter Command, the 65th Fighter Wing, until returning to the United States at the end of 1944. During his time overseas, Colonel Peterson had flown a total of 130 missions and been credited with 9 aerial victories and 9 probables.
After attending Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Peterson was assigned as the commander of Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Florida in March 1945. His next assignment was as chief, Air Attache Branch, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., beginning in August, 1945.
or Vietnam War
s, he was assigned overseas as the commander of flying units in both France and Japan.
Chesley Peterson was promoted to Major General in 1965. His last assignment on active duty began on April 1, 1967 as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Staff, Commander in Chief, Pacific. General Peterson retired July 31, 1970.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. He was a fighter pilot in the European theater in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who remained in the military after the war. Peterson is best known for his time as the commander of the famous 4th Fighter Group during 1942 - 1943.
Early years
Chesley Peterson was born in Idaho, but moved to Utah in his childhood. He joined the Utah National GuardUtah National Guard
The Utah National Guard consists of the:* Utah Army National Guard**19th Special Forces Group **85th WMD CST**97th Troop Command**115th Engineer Group **211th Aviation Group**300th MI Brigade **640th Regiment...
in 1937. In 1939 he joined the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
and was selected for air cadet training, but was dismissed before graduation from flight school. He moved to Los Angeles after being dropped from flight school and was working at Douglas Aircraft when he became interested in flying for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
who were at that time recruiting Americans to fight the Germans.
Eagle Squadron
Peterson arrived in England in late 1940 and was assigned to No. 71 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. No. 71 Squadron was one of the three Eagle squadronEagle squadron
The Eagle Squadrons were 3 fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II with volunteer pilots from the United States...
s made of volunteer American pilots. The Americans would fly Hurricanes and Spitfires against the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
. In time he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
, and given command of No. 71 Squadron. Flt. Lt. Peterson completed 42 missions while flying with the RAF. When he was given command of No. 71 Squadron he was only 21 years old and was the youngest squadron commander in the RAF.
4th Fighter Group
In 1942, Chesley Peterson accepted a transfer to the USAAF along with the rest of the Eagle Squadrons. He assigned to the 4th Fighter Group as the executive officer and as a Major. Later he would be promoted to colonel at the age of 23, and became the youngest colonel in the USAAF.When Peterson first joined the 4th Fighter Group, they were assigned the P-47 Thunderbolt, which was a radical change from the Spitfires the Eagle Squadron pilots had flown for the RAF. While flying a P-47 over the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, Peterson was forced to bail out at 500 ft above the water. His parachute failed, but miraculously Peterson survived both the fall and the dangerous Channel waters.
In January 1944, Chesley Peterson was reassigned to the VIII Fighter Command
VIII Fighter Command
The VIII Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at RAF Honington, England. It was inactivated on 20 March 1946....
as a staff officer and then to a subordinate unit of VIII Fighter Command, the 65th Fighter Wing, until returning to the United States at the end of 1944. During his time overseas, Colonel Peterson had flown a total of 130 missions and been credited with 9 aerial victories and 9 probables.
After attending Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Peterson was assigned as the commander of Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Florida in March 1945. His next assignment was as chief, Air Attache Branch, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., beginning in August, 1945.
Post-War Air Force career
After the war, Colonel Peterson had a variety of assignments including both command and staff assignments. Although he did not participate directly in either the KoreanKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
or Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
s, he was assigned overseas as the commander of flying units in both France and Japan.
Chesley Peterson was promoted to Major General in 1965. His last assignment on active duty began on April 1, 1967 as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Staff, Commander in Chief, Pacific. General Peterson retired July 31, 1970.
Decorations
Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
Legion of Honour