USAF Gen John T Chain Jr


| USAF Gen John T Chain Jr
Gen. Chain served for nearly five years as the next-to-last Commanding Officer of the Strategic Air Command. Gen. Chain is a command pilot with 5,000 flying hours, including 400 combat hours. He has flown more than forty-five different military aircraft. He is also a master parachutist with sixty-six jumps to his credit. The General was born December 11, 1934 in Wilmington, Delaware. He attended the Fork Union Military Academy and earned a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1956. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program, and earned his pilots wings in 1957. General Chain flew F-100s with the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing at Toule-Rosieres Air Base in France, and with the 417th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He later served as flight examiner with the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon Air Base in New Mexico. In June of 1964 he was assigned to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky where he served as a forward air controller with the 101st Airborne Division. At Ft. Campbell, the General became a master parachutist and flew 0-1s and F84s. In 1966, he flew combat missions out of Tan Son Nhut in Vietnam as an adviser, prior to being assigned to Washington where he served as an exchange officer with the Dept. of State. In 1971 he graduated from the National War College and concurrently earned a masters degree in international affairs from George Washington University. General Chain returned to combat flying in 1972 when he flew F-4s out of Thailand. He was appointed Deputy Commander of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing in California upon his return. Later he was transferred to Langley Air Base in Virginia, with the F-15 equipped 1st Tactical Fighter Wing. He served in various capacities and eventually assumed command of the Wing. In 1978 he was promoted to Brigadier General and was the military assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. General Chain's numerous awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with ten oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Combat Readiness Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with four stars, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, the Republic Vietnam Distinguished Medal, just to name a few. Sadly John would pass away on July 7th 2021. |