Jerry D. Page
Encyclopedia
Jerry Dentler Page was a major general in the United States Air Force
and commandant of the Air War College
who was reassigned after making controversial statements at the school. Page was considered to be one of the "ablest minds" of the Air Force in the 1960s.
degree in industrial management at the University of Southern California
in 1937. During his military career he also graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.
He began his military career in June 1938 as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings and commission at Kelly Field, Texas, in 1939. His first years of service were as flying instructor, flight commander, cadet commandant, flying director and operations officer at Randolph Field, Texas.
During World War II, General Page served in the South Pacific area with the XIII Fighter Command as operations officer and was awarded the Legion of Merit
. He flew 32 combat missions in P-38 Lightning
and P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft.
He returned to the United States in January 1946 and assumed duties as deputy base commander of Hamilton Field, California. In February 1948 he entered the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. He was assigned in July 1948 as Air Force liaison officer in the newly created Office of the Secretary of Defense. In April 1949 he was appointed executive to the deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
In September 1950 General Page went to London, England, as Air Force representative to the Northern European Regional Planning Group. In July 1951 he became deputy chief of staff for plans for Allied Air Forces Northern Europe with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. After two years, he returned to the United States to serve as chief of the Doctrine Division of the Evaluation Staff at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from August 1953 to August 1955.
In August 1955 he entered the National War College and in September 1956 assumed command of the 3525th Combat Crew Training Wing (Fighter), at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona.
He returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in June 1960 as deputy director for war plans for the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, and in September 1961 he became deputy director for aerospace plans for the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. For his service in these two assignments he received the Distinguished Service Medal, the nation's highest peacetime military award.
General Page was transferred to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland in 1964 where he earned a second Legion of Merit as deputy chief of staff for plans. In August 1966 he assumed the dual position of vice commander of the Air University and commandant of the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
during an Air War College
seminar for senior Air Force Reserve officers in December 1966. Even though the seminar's discussions were understood to be classified Secret and to be strictly confined behind closed doors, Page was relieved of his command and transferred to the air division command at Okinawa "without prejudice." Arizona senator Barry Goldwater
accused one of the seminar attendees, a Reserve colonel and politician recently defeated in his reelection bid for the governorship of Arizona
, of having made complaints to the Department of Defense
that led to General Page's relief and subsequent transfer.
Page's relief raised concerns not only with the Air War College
faculty but through the faculties of the nation's other senior service colleges (SSC) as well, as it struck at one of the basic tenets of SSC education: the free give-and-take of academic discussion behind the closed doors of the college.
In March 1967, because of his comments, he was assigned as commander of the 313th Air Division at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. There he earned the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
. In 1969 General Page assumed his final command - Sheppard Technical Training Center, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He retired August 1, 1972.
He was a qualified jet fighter pilot with more than 5,800 hours of flying time. He was also a recipient of the Air Medal
and the Army Commendation Medal.
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...
and commandant of 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...
who was reassigned after making controversial statements at the school. Page was considered to be one of the "ablest minds" of the Air Force in the 1960s.
Military career
General Page was born in Manila, Philippines. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he graduated from Manual Arts High School and received a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in industrial management at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1937. During his military career he also graduated from the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia.
He began his military career in June 1938 as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings and commission at Kelly Field, Texas, in 1939. His first years of service were as flying instructor, flight commander, cadet commandant, flying director and operations officer at Randolph Field, Texas.
During World War II, General Page served in the South Pacific area with the XIII Fighter Command as operations officer and was awarded the 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...
. He flew 32 combat missions in P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
and P-39 Airacobra fighter aircraft.
He returned to the United States in January 1946 and assumed duties as deputy base commander of Hamilton Field, California. In February 1948 he entered the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. He was assigned in July 1948 as Air Force liaison officer in the newly created Office of the Secretary of Defense. In April 1949 he was appointed executive to the deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
In September 1950 General Page went to London, England, as Air Force representative to the Northern European Regional Planning Group. In July 1951 he became deputy chief of staff for plans for Allied Air Forces Northern Europe with headquarters in Oslo, Norway. After two years, he returned to the United States to serve as chief of the Doctrine Division of the Evaluation Staff at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from August 1953 to August 1955.
In August 1955 he entered the National War College and in September 1956 assumed command of the 3525th Combat Crew Training Wing (Fighter), at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona.
He returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in June 1960 as deputy director for war plans for the deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, and in September 1961 he became deputy director for aerospace plans for the deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. For his service in these two assignments he received the Distinguished Service Medal, the nation's highest peacetime military award.
General Page was transferred to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland in 1964 where he earned a second Legion of Merit as deputy chief of staff for plans. In August 1966 he assumed the dual position of vice commander of the Air University and commandant of the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Controversy
Page was alleged to have revealed confidential bomb shortages in Vietnam and to have criticized defense policies of Defense Secretary Robert McNamaraRobert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968, during which time he played a large role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War...
during an 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...
seminar for senior Air Force Reserve officers in December 1966. Even though the seminar's discussions were understood to be classified Secret and to be strictly confined behind closed doors, Page was relieved of his command and transferred to the air division command at Okinawa "without prejudice." Arizona senator Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...
accused one of the seminar attendees, a Reserve colonel and politician recently defeated in his reelection bid for the governorship of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, of having made complaints to the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
that led to General Page's relief and subsequent transfer.
Page's relief raised concerns not only with 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...
faculty but through the faculties of the nation's other senior service colleges (SSC) as well, as it struck at one of the basic tenets of SSC education: the free give-and-take of academic discussion behind the closed doors of the college.
In March 1967, because of his comments, he was assigned as commander of the 313th Air Division at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. There he earned the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
. In 1969 General Page assumed his final command - Sheppard Technical Training Center, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. He retired August 1, 1972.
He was a qualified jet fighter pilot with more than 5,800 hours of flying time. He was also a recipient of 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:...
and the Army Commendation Medal.