William C. Norris

William Clark Norris (20 September 1926 – 4 November 2024) was a United States Air Force major general who served as a command pilot in the Korean War and the Vietnam War, completing 200 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for extraordinary heroism during a strike against the Paul Doumer Bridge on 12 August 1967. Norris commanded the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Headquarters Command, U.S. Air Force, the 76th Airlift Division, and the Third Air Force. He served as a flight engineer until entering the Air Force Reserve on 3 December 1946. He completed 100 combat missions over North Korea before returning in October 1951.

On 19 August 1951, as squadron leader of a flight of eighteen F-51 aircraft, Norris led his formation through low-hanging clouds and intermittent rain showers to attack targets at Chongju, deep within North Korea. The flight made a series of attacks using bombs, rockets, and machine guns on marshalling yards, railway cars, and petroleum, oil, and lubricant storage areas. He completed 100 combat missions over North Vietnam during this tour.

On 5 May 1967, Norris flew as number three in a four-ship flight against a railroad yard in North Vietnam. Disregarding heavy anti-aircraft fire directly over the target, he made a precise dive bomb run, placing his ordnance on the yard. For this mission, he was awarded a second Distinguished Flying Cross.

On 12 August 1967, Norris led a strike force of twenty F-105 aircraft against the bridge. As force commander and leader of the flak-suppression flight, he was approaching the target when four MiG-17 fighters attacked his formation from the rear. In February 1973, he assumed command of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Upper Heyford, England, coinciding with his promotion to brigadier general. he was named commander of the 76th Airlift Division at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on 1 July 1976. The 76th Airlift Division provided VIP airlift for the President, Vice President, cabinet members, and foreign dignitaries. He served in this position until 26 July 1977, when he was succeeded by Major General Benjamin F. Starr Jr.

On 1 August 1977, Norris assumed command of the Third Air Force, United States Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. Third Air Force headquarters had relocated to Mildenhall from RAF South Ruislip in June 1972. During Norris's tenure, NATO adopted the dual-track decision in December 1979, which would later bring ground-launched cruise missiles to bases under Third Air Force's area of responsibility. They had two children: a daughter, Kathleen (Kate) Norris Tucker of Spicer, Minnesota, and a son, Matthew Norris of Boston, Virginia.

Assignments 1944–1946, enlisted service, U.S. Army Air Forces 1949–1951, pilot, 20th Fighter Group, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina 1951, pilot, 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Korea 1952–1959, pilot and operations officer, 54th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota 1959–1960, chief, Fighter-Operations Branch, 11th Air Division, Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska 1961–1962, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 1962–1965, staff officer, Headquarters Air Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colorado 1965–1966, commander, 4757th Air Defense Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida 1966–1967, commander, 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand 1967–1968, assistant executive officer, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C. 1968–1970, director, Operational Inspection, Headquarters Aerospace Defense Command 1970–1971, student, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama 1971–1973, vice commander/commander, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, West Germany 1973, commander, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Upper Heyford, England 1973–1974, deputy chief of staff for plans, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe 1974–1975, inspector general, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe 1975–1976, commander, Headquarters Command, United States Air Force, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. 1976–1977, commander, 76th Airlift Division, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland 1977–1980, commander, Third Air Force, RAF Mildenhall, England

Awards and decorations

Effective dates of promotion