Oliver S. Picher
Encyclopedia
Oliver S. Picher was a United States Air Force
Lt. General. He served as Commander of the 307th Bombardment Group
during WWII, Commander of the 315th Air Division
in post war Japan and as the Director of the Joint Staff
.
cum laude in 1928. He enlisted as an aviation cadet, earned his wings and was commissioned successively in the Air Reserve and Regular Army.
In May 1930 he went to Hawaii for two years with the 18th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field. He was in the 6th Pursuit Squadron under the command of Lt. Hoyt Vandenberg
who later became Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
. Another squadron in the Group was the 26th Attack Squadron under the command of Lt. Nathan Twining who also became Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and was Picher's best man at his wedding. He married Marion Lewis on November 9, 1931 at her parents house in the Nu‘uanu Pali area of Honolulu. He joined the 35th Pursuit Squadron (later designated the 35th Fighter Squadron
) at Langley Field, Va., took the maintenance engineering armament course at the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, Ill. and in October 1936, as a first lieutenant, was assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group at Hamilton Field, Calif.
Lieutenant Picher returned to Hawaii for assignment to the 31st Bomb Squadron at Hickam Field and was promoted to captain in May 1940. He returned home for assignments to the Advanced Flying Schools at Stockton, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., with promotion to major. In June 1941 he went to Headquarters Army Air Force, first in organization and equipment and then as executive officer to the assistant chief of staff for operations, with advancement to lieutenant colonel. He went to the South Pacific in July 1943 as commanding officer of the 13th Air Force's 307th Bombardment Group
.
In October he was promoted to colonel. He flew 34 combat missions and earned the Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, serving in combat until February 1945. He returned to Washington for duty with the Operations Division of the War Department General Staff and attended the first class of the National War College
. He next served as executive for the director of plans and operations and in June 1948 became Director of Operations after promotion two months previously to brigadier general. In his new role, he had to mobilize C-54 transports from all over the world to break the Russian blockade of Berlin, known as the Berlin Airlift.
General Picher went to Japan in September 1949 as commanding general of Far East Air Force's 315th Air Division
at Itazuke. The following March he became inspector general of FEAF at Tokyo and a year later was named Director of Personnel in the command, with promotion March 8, 1952 to major general. He again returned to Washington and became Assistant for Programming under the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. In June 1955 he was appointed Director of Strategic Plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
.
He was promoted to lieutenant general April 1, 1958 and selected for the position of Director of the Joint Staff
. He retired on May 11, 1960.
, Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
with two clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross
, Air Medal
with four clusters and ten campaign medals.
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...
Lt. General. He served as Commander of the 307th Bombardment Group
307th Bombardment Group
The 307th Air Refueling Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 47th Air Division, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California...
during WWII, Commander of the 315th Air Division
315th Air Division
The 315th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces, based at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated in April 1969.-History:...
in post war Japan and as the Director of the Joint Staff
Director of the Joint Staff
The Director of the Joint Staff is a three-star officer who assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the management of the Joint Staff, an organization composed of approximately equal numbers of officers contributed by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, who have been...
.
Biography
Oliver Stanton Picher was born in Pasadena, CA, in 1905. He graduated from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
cum laude in 1928. He enlisted as an aviation cadet, earned his wings and was commissioned successively in the Air Reserve and Regular Army.
In May 1930 he went to Hawaii for two years with the 18th Pursuit Group at Wheeler Field. He was in the 6th Pursuit Squadron under the command of Lt. Hoyt Vandenberg
Hoyt Vandenberg
Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg was a U.S. Air Force general, its second Chief of Staff, and second Director of Central Intelligence....
who later became Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Air Force, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Air Force, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the...
. Another squadron in the Group was the 26th Attack Squadron under the command of Lt. Nathan Twining who also became Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
and was Picher's best man at his wedding. He married Marion Lewis on November 9, 1931 at her parents house in the Nu‘uanu Pali area of Honolulu. He joined the 35th Pursuit Squadron (later designated the 35th Fighter Squadron
35th Fighter Squadron
The 35th Fighter Squadron is part of the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.-History:The 35th Fighter Squadron heritage dates back to 12 June 1917, when the unit activated as the 35th Aero Squadron. Originally an aircraft maintenance squadron, the unit served in France from...
) at Langley Field, Va., took the maintenance engineering armament course at the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, Ill. and in October 1936, as a first lieutenant, was assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group at Hamilton Field, Calif.
Lieutenant Picher returned to Hawaii for assignment to the 31st Bomb Squadron at Hickam Field and was promoted to captain in May 1940. He returned home for assignments to the Advanced Flying Schools at Stockton, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., with promotion to major. In June 1941 he went to Headquarters Army Air Force, first in organization and equipment and then as executive officer to the assistant chief of staff for operations, with advancement to lieutenant colonel. He went to the South Pacific in July 1943 as commanding officer of the 13th Air Force's 307th Bombardment Group
307th Bombardment Group
The 307th Air Refueling Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 47th Air Division, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California...
.
In October he was promoted to colonel. He flew 34 combat missions and earned the Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, serving in combat until February 1945. He returned to Washington for duty with the Operations Division of the War Department General Staff and attended the first class of the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
. He next served as executive for the director of plans and operations and in June 1948 became Director of Operations after promotion two months previously to brigadier general. In his new role, he had to mobilize C-54 transports from all over the world to break the Russian blockade of Berlin, known as the Berlin Airlift.
General Picher went to Japan in September 1949 as commanding general of Far East Air Force's 315th Air Division
315th Air Division
The 315th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces, based at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated in April 1969.-History:...
at Itazuke. The following March he became inspector general of FEAF at Tokyo and a year later was named Director of Personnel in the command, with promotion March 8, 1952 to major general. He again returned to Washington and became Assistant for Programming under the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. In June 1955 he was appointed Director of Strategic Plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
.
He was promoted to lieutenant general April 1, 1958 and selected for the position of Director of the Joint Staff
Director of the Joint Staff
The Director of the Joint Staff is a three-star officer who assists the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with the management of the Joint Staff, an organization composed of approximately equal numbers of officers contributed by the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, who have been...
. He retired on May 11, 1960.
Awards and decorations
Picher's awards and decorations included the Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir 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...
, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, 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 two clusters, 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:...
with four clusters and ten campaign medals.
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe 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...
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
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...
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished 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 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:...
Other information
- General Picher is also a first cousin twice removed to Edwin Stanton who was Secretary of War under President Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and United States Attorney GeneralUnited States Attorney GeneralThe United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
under President James BuchananJames BuchananJames Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
. - Because of his extensive travels throughout Southeast Asia, General Picher gained a knowledge and appreciation of Korean pottery. Many of his pieces were donated to the Honolulu Academy of ArtsHonolulu Academy of ArtsThe Honolulu Academy of Arts is an art museum in Honolulu in the state of Hawaii. Since its founding in 1922 by Anna Rice Cooke and opening April 8, 1927, its collections have grown to over 40,000 works of art.-Description:...
including this 15th Century wine bottle.