Louis L. Wilson Jr.

Louis Locke Wilson Jr. (January 10, 1919 – June 25, 2010) was a four-star general in the United States Air Force (USAF) and former commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces.

Biography

Early life Wilson was born in Huntington, West Virginia, in 1919. He graduated from high school in that town and in 1937, after which he attended Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, West Virginia. After a year's service in an enlisted status with the 11th Infantry, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1939, and graduated in January 1943 with a commission as second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps and assigned to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). He completed military flight training/pilot training while a cadet at the academy and received an aeronautical rating as a USAAF pilot concurrent with his graduation from West Point.

Retirement and later life He was promoted to the grade of general effective July 1, 1974, with date of rank that same day. He retired on May 31, 1977.

During retirement, he settled on a small ranch in Tucson, Arizona to raise horses and cattle.

He died on June 25, 2010.

Awards His military decorations and awards include the: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal with eighteen oak leaf clusters Army Commendation Medal Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters French Croix de Guerre Command pilot Master Missile Badge