Jack G. Merrell
Encyclopedia
General Jack Gordon Merrell (April 8, 1915 – August 15, 1993) was a United States Air Force four star general who served as Commander, Air Force Logistics Command
(COMAFLC) from 1968 to 1972..
Merrell was born in Jeannette, Pennsylvania
, in 1915. He graduated from high school in 1933, attended Braden's Preparatory at Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, and then entered the United States Military Academy
at West Point from which he graduated in the class of 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in military science.
He was first assigned to the Cavalry, but quickly secured a transfer to the United States Army Air Corps
, finishing both primary and advanced flying school within a year after leaving West Point.
When the United States entered into World War II, he was serving with the Army Air Corps Training Detachment at Lakeland, Florida
. Tours of duty with the 39th
and 491st Bombardment Group
s as provisional commander, and deputy commander, respectively, followed. In May 1944 he went to England and became the air executive officer of the 491st Bombardment Group
and later was commander of the 389th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
. At the end of the war he moved with the 389th Group to Charleston, South Carolina.
From November 1945 until June 1948, he served with the Air Transport Command
at Cincinnati, Ohio
, Memphis, Tennessee
, Fort Totten, New York, and Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
Postwar reorganization changed the Air Transport Command into the Military Air Transport Service
; and in July 1948, Merrell became chief of staff for MATS' Atlantic Division. After a year, he was made commander of Kindley Air Force Base
, Bermuda. In September 1951, he was assigned to command the 1600th Air Transport Wing, operating out of Westover Air Force Base. From that post he went to the Air War College
at Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama, where he graduated in 1954.
Merrell had his next duty tour at U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington where he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, chief of the Plans and Programs Division, in July 1954, and a year later as deputy director, Directorate of Personnel Planning.
He was reassigned to MATS at McGuire Air Force Base
, New Jersey, in 1959. There he was deputy commander, then commander of its Eastern Transport component. From McGuire he went to MATS Headquarters, Scott Air Force Base
, Illinois, in September 1960 to become deputy chief of staff for plans.
In January 1962, he returned to Washington, D.C., to serve as director of the budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He assumed the position of comptroller of the U.S. Air Force in November 1964.
He was named vice commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe in August 1967, and became commander of the Air Force Logistics Command
in March 1968.
A command pilot, his decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster
, Distinguished Flying Cross
, Air Medal
, Army Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre.
Merrell retired from the Air Force on September 12, 1972 and died on August 15, 1993.
Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command was a United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
(COMAFLC) from 1968 to 1972..
Merrell was born in Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Jeannette, Pennsylvania
Jeannette is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,788 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jeannette is located at ....
, in 1915. He graduated from high school in 1933, attended Braden's Preparatory at Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, and then entered the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point from which he graduated in the class of 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in military science.
He was first assigned to the Cavalry, but quickly secured a transfer to the United States 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...
, finishing both primary and advanced flying school within a year after leaving West Point.
When the United States entered into World War II, he was serving with the Army Air Corps Training Detachment at Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. Tours of duty with the 39th
39th Air Base Wing
The 39th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Third Air Force. It is stationed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey...
and 491st Bombardment Group
491st Bombardment Group
The 491st Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the II Bomber Command, stationed at McChord Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 8 September 1945....
s as provisional commander, and deputy commander, respectively, followed. In May 1944 he went to England and became the air executive officer of the 491st Bombardment Group
491st Bombardment Group
The 491st Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the II Bomber Command, stationed at McChord Field, Washington. It was inactivated on 8 September 1945....
and later was commander of the 389th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
. At the end of the war he moved with the 389th Group to Charleston, South Carolina.
From November 1945 until June 1948, he served with the Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
at Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Fort Totten, New York, and Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
Postwar reorganization changed the Air Transport Command into the Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
; and in July 1948, Merrell became chief of staff for MATS' Atlantic Division. After a year, he was made commander of Kindley Air Force Base
Kindley Air Force Base
Kindley Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base in Bermuda from 1948–1970, having been operated from 1943 to 1948 by the United States Army Air Force as Kindley Field.-World War II:...
, Bermuda. In September 1951, he was assigned to command the 1600th Air Transport Wing, operating out of Westover Air Force Base. From that post he went to the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama, where he graduated in 1954.
Merrell had his next duty tour at U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington where he was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, chief of the Plans and Programs Division, in July 1954, and a year later as deputy director, Directorate of Personnel Planning.
He was reassigned to MATS at McGuire Air Force Base
McGuire Air Force Base
JB MDL McGuire is a United States Air Force base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. McGuire is under the jurisdiction of the USAF Air Mobility Command...
, New Jersey, in 1959. There he was deputy commander, then commander of its Eastern Transport component. From McGuire he went to MATS Headquarters, Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, Illinois, in September 1960 to become deputy chief of staff for plans.
In January 1962, he returned to Washington, D.C., to serve as director of the budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. He assumed the position of comptroller of the U.S. Air Force in November 1964.
He was named vice commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe in August 1967, and became commander of the Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command
Air Force Logistics Command was a United States Air Force command. Its headquarters was located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio...
in March 1968.
A command pilot, his decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The 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...
with oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, Air Medal
Air Medal
The 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:...
, Army Commendation Medal, and the French Croix de Guerre.
Merrell retired from the Air Force on September 12, 1972 and died on August 15, 1993.