1941-1945
A Special Tribute to General Horace M. Wade
Retired Oct. 31, 1973, Died June 14, 2001
1941-1945
Retired Oct. 31, 1973, Died June 14, 2001
Early Years
General Wade was born in 1916, in Magnolia, Ark. After completing high school in Wortham, Texas, he returned to Arkansas, and graduated from the Magnolia Agricultural and Mechanical Junior College in 1936. In February 1948 he received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas. His military career began in 1934 when he became a member of Company D, 153rd Infantry, Arkansas National Guard. He entered the Army Air Corps Flying School, Randolph Field, Texas, in 1937, and upon graduating and receiving his wings, in October 1938, was commissioned as a second lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve, U.S. Army.
World War II
Upon completion of flying training, he was assigned
to the 11th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group, Hamilton Field, Calif., and in December 1941, was deployed
with this unit to the Southwest Pacific. He was scheduled to depart the US for the Phillipines on 7 December 1941,
but when the first unit, which deployed on 6 December "met WW II" over Hawaii, his Squadron was assigned
patrol duty on the Pacific coast. Shortly afterwards, he was sent
to Tucson where LB-30s destined for Britain were available for them. With minimum acquaintance in a completely
different aircraft, they were sent to war; traversing South America, Africa, and Ceylon; in Java they met up with
the
19th Bomb Group which had been evacuated from the Phillipines. From there they fought a frustrating delaying action
until it was necessary to evacuate once again. In his LB-30, General Wade flew Theater commander, Lord Wavell,
and his staff, to India, to continue the fight in the China-Burma-India Theater. There General Wade accumulated
36 combat missions in B-17s and B-24s before he returned to the United States in 1943.
After a short tour as commander of the 29th Bombardment Group, Gowen Field, Idaho, and a few months as a Tactical
Air Inspector for the Second Air Force, he was transferred, in July 1944, to the War Department, General Staff.
In March 1946 he was assigned to Headquarters Air Transport Command as Deputy Chief of Staff.
Post World War II
He joined the Strategic Air Command in August
1949 and served with the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and the 91st Strategic
Reconnaissance Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., before being named Commander of the 301st Bombardment Wing,
Barksdale Air Force Base, La., in February 1951.
He completed the National War College, in June 1955, and was assigned as Director of Personnel, Headquarters Strategic
Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. In the summer of 1959, he was designated the Commander of the 4310th Air
Division (SAC), Nouasseur Air Base, Morocco, and in October 1961, was assigned as Deputy Commander, Eighth Air
Force, Westover Air Force Base, Mass. In August 1962 he returned to the Pentagon to serve as the Assistant Deputy
Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
On Dec. 1, 1964, General Wade was named Commander, Eighth Air Force, Westover Air Force Base, Mass., and was promoted
to the grade of Lieutenant General; in August 1966, he was again returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force -- this
time as Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. On Aug. 1, 1968 he was designated as commander in chief, U.S. Air
Forces in Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany, and concurrently as Commander, Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force, Allied Command
Europe, and was promoted to General. In February 1969 he was appointed Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers Europe.
General Wade became Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, on May 1, 1972 and subsequently retired in that position
on Oct 31, 1973.
He was a Command pilot, maintained his proficiency in multijet aircraft, and had more than 8,450 hours of flying
time.
His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star,
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with oak leaf cluster.
Subsequent To Retirement
In recognition of his outstanding service in the Personnel field, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters United States Air Force, established the GENERAL HORACE M. WADE AWARD which is given annually to a member of the personnel field who has earned recognition for exceptional acomplishments. The 1999 Award was presented to the recipient in a ceremony at Headquarters 12th Air Force, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ on 31 August.
General Wade was a great believer in organizations
of veterans of specific military units. He was instrumental in the formation of the associations composed of people
who had served in Morocco, and also, personnel from the 301st Bombardment Wing; he helped organize both and served
as their president for a number of years. Recognizing that a complete and accurate history of the 7th Bombardment
Group had never been published and that it would be essential for a non-profit foundation to be formed in order
to enter into publishing contracts, General Wade helped form the 7th Bombardment Group (H) Historical Foundation,
which was incorporated in Texas. Composed of about 1500 ex-members, this organization engaged a well-known aviation
author to write the entire history which was published as "7th Bombardment Group/Wing, 1918-1995" by
Turner Publishing. He served this Foundation for nearly 10 years as President.
General Wade's mind and memory remained clear up to the very end and he quietly passed away at 0715 hours 14 June,
2001. At his burial at the Air Force Academy, recognition of his service to the 7th Bomb Group was observed by
an overflight of a B-1B from Dyess AFB, home of the 7th, and to which General Wade had been very influential in
the transfer of the 7th following the earlier closing of Carswell AFB, TX.
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