Archie J. Old, Jr.

Archie J. Old Jr. (August 1, 1906 – March 24, 1984) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force.

Early life Old was born in Farmersville, Texas, on August 1, 1906. The B-17 that Col. Old was in for the first Schweinfurt mission aborted, so Col. Curtis Lemay and BGen. Robert Williams led the first Schweinfurt raid on 17 August; Col. Old and Maj. Thomas F. Kenny led the second Schweinfurt raid on 14 October 1943. On June 21, 1944, Col. Old led the second Shuttle Mission to Russia.

In July 1948 he was named commander of the Atlantic Division of the Military Air Transport Service.

Commands held

Other achievements

Old led Operation Power Flite as a Major General. Three Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses became the first jet aircraft to circle the world nonstop in that mission. The mission was intended to demonstrate that the United States had the ability to drop a hydrogen bomb anywhere in the world.

Military awards

60 px Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters

Foreign decorations French Legion of Honor Belgian Croix de guerre with Palm Soviet Order of Suvorov Second Class French Croix de Guerre with Palm British Distinguished Flying Cross French Moroccan Order of Ouissam Alaouite

Television appearance Old appeared, playing himself, in "Massacre", a 1966 episode of the television show Twelve O'Clock High.