Jarred V. Crabb

Jarred Vincent Crabb (18 September 1902 – 25 July 1981) was a United States Air Force major general. During the Second World War he commanded the V Bomber Command in the Southwest Pacific Area. During the Korean War, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) in Tokyo.

Early life Jarred Vincent Crabb was born in Olney, Illinois, on 18 September 1902. He attended Purdue University, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1925.

Between the wars Crabb enlisted in the Army as a flying cadet on 21 February 1929. He underwent flight training at the Air Corps Primary Flying School at March Field, California, and the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas,

Promoted to the substantive rank of first lieutenant on 1 August 1935, Crabb served with the 27th Pursuit Squadron from September 1936 to January 1938, and the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron from September 1938 to January 1941. He commanded it in operations for the rest of the war, relinquishing command only on 30 June 1946. He then briefly served as commander of the 314th Composite Wing in Japan from 1 to 29 July 1946.

Post war Crabb (right) shakes hands with Major Oscar R. Fladmark Jr. at Grandview Air Force Base, Missouri, circa 1955 Returning to the United States, Crabb became the deputy commander of the Ninth Air Force at Greenville, South Carolina, from 26 September 1946 to 19 November 1948. On transferring to the new United States Air Force on 8 May 1947, his substantive rank was still that of major, although he was advanced to colonel on 2 April 1948. He commanded the Thirteenth Air Force at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines from 27 to 30 November 1948 and then the 18th Fighter Wing there from 1 December 1948 to 8 June 1949. He was deputy chief of staff for operations at Far East Air Forces in Tokyo during the Korean War from 20 June 1949 to 17 January 1952. He was promoted to the substantive rank of brigadier general in the Air Force in March 1953.

For his service with the Ninth and Thirteenth Air Forces and Far East Air Forces, Crabb was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal in the form of an oak leaf cluster to his Army Distinguished Service Medal. His final assignment was as chief of staff of the Air Defense Command at Ent Air Force Base. His papers are held by the United States Air Force Academy.