Введение
Генерал ВВС США (1901–1965)
Генерал Томас Дрессер Уайт (6 августа 1901 года – 22 декабря 1965 года) был четвертым начальником штаба Военно-воздушных сил США.
Жизнь и военная карьера
Уайт родился в Уокер, штат Миннесота, 6 августа 1901 года. Его отцом был Джон Ченлер Уайт. По окончании Военной академии Соединенных Штатов 2 июля 1920 года он был произведен в звание второго лейтенанта пехоты и немедленно повышен до первого лейтенанта. В июле 1921 года Уайт окончил школу пехоты в Форт-Беннинг, штат Джорджия, и был назначен на службу в 14-й пехотный полк в Форт-Дэвис, в зоне Панамского канала. В сентябре 1924 года он поступил в начальную летную школу в Брукс-Филд, штат Техас. В сентябре 1925 года окончил Высшую школу летной подготовки в Келли-Филд, штат Техас, и был назначен на службу в 99-ю разведывательную эскадрилью на поле Боллинга, Вашингтон, округ Колумбия. В июне 1927 года Уайт был направлен на учебу китайскому языку в Пекин, Китай. Четыре года спустя он вернулся в Соединенные Штаты для службы в штаб-квартире Военно-воздушных сил в Вашингтоне, округ Колумбия.
In June 1927, White was assigned to duty as a student of the Chinese language in Peking, China. Four years later, he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters Air Corps, Washington, D. C.
White was named assistant military attache for air to Russia in February 1934. A year later, he was appointed assistant military attache for air to Italy and Greece, with station at Rome. White graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in May 1938. He then entered Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was named an outstanding alumni of the class 1939 and upon completion of this training was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D. C.
In April 1940, White became military attache to Brazil and the following August was named chief of the U. S. Military Air Mission to Brazil. Returning to the United States in March 1942, White was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations of the Third Air Force at MacDill Field, Florida, and subsequently named chief of staff. Reassigned to Army Air Forces Headquarters at The Pentagon, Virginia, in January 1944, he became assistant chief of air staff for intelligence. Proceeding to the Southwest Pacific in September 1944, White assumed duty as the deputy commander of the Thirteenth Air Force, taking part in the campaigns of New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Borneo. The following June, he assumed command of the Seventh Air Force, which had based its headquarters in the Marianas and immediately moved with it to the recently taken Okinawa. In January 1946, he returned with the Seventh Air Force to Hawaii. That October, he was appointed chief of staff of the Pacific Air Command in Tokyo, Japan. One year later, in October 1947, White took command of the Fifth Air Force in Japan. Transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in October 1948, White became director of the Legislation and Liaison. He was appointed, in May 1950, Air Force Member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was assigned as director of Plans, Headquarters U. S. Air Force, in February 1951, and in July 1951, assumed duties of deputy chief of staff of operations for the Air Force. White was promoted to the rank of general on June 30, 1953, and designated Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force at that time, becoming Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on July 1, 1957. He retired June 30, 1961.
В феврале 1934 года Уайт был назначен помощником военного атташе по авиации в Россию. Год спустя он был назначен помощником военного атташе по авиации в Италию и Грецию, с местом дислокации в Риме. Уайт окончил тактическую школу Военно-воздушных сил на поле Максвелла, штат Алабама, в мае 1938 года. Затем он поступил в Школу командования и штаба в Форт-Левенворте, штат Канзас. Он был признан выдающимся выпускником класса 1939 года, и по окончании обучения был назначен в Управление начальника Военно-воздушных сил, Вашингтон, округ Колумбия.
In June 1927, White was assigned to duty as a student of the Chinese language in Peking, China. Four years later, he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters Air Corps, Washington, D. C.
White was named assistant military attache for air to Russia in February 1934. A year later, he was appointed assistant military attache for air to Italy and Greece, with station at Rome. White graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in May 1938. He then entered Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was named an outstanding alumni of the class 1939 and upon completion of this training was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D. C.
In April 1940, White became military attache to Brazil and the following August was named chief of the U. S. Military Air Mission to Brazil. Returning to the United States in March 1942, White was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations of the Third Air Force at MacDill Field, Florida, and subsequently named chief of staff. Reassigned to Army Air Forces Headquarters at The Pentagon, Virginia, in January 1944, he became assistant chief of air staff for intelligence. Proceeding to the Southwest Pacific in September 1944, White assumed duty as the deputy commander of the Thirteenth Air Force, taking part in the campaigns of New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Borneo. The following June, he assumed command of the Seventh Air Force, which had based its headquarters in the Marianas and immediately moved with it to the recently taken Okinawa. In January 1946, he returned with the Seventh Air Force to Hawaii. That October, he was appointed chief of staff of the Pacific Air Command in Tokyo, Japan. One year later, in October 1947, White took command of the Fifth Air Force in Japan. Transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in October 1948, White became director of the Legislation and Liaison. He was appointed, in May 1950, Air Force Member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was assigned as director of Plans, Headquarters U. S. Air Force, in February 1951, and in July 1951, assumed duties of deputy chief of staff of operations for the Air Force. White was promoted to the rank of general on June 30, 1953, and designated Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force at that time, becoming Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on July 1, 1957. He retired June 30, 1961.
В апреле 1940 года Уайт стал военным атташе в Бразилии, а в следующем августе был назначен начальником Военно-воздушной миссии США в Бразилии. Вернувшись в США в марте 1942 года, Уайт был назначен помощником начальника штаба по операциям Третьей воздушной армии на поле МакДилл, штат Флорида, а затем назначен начальником штаба. В январе 1944 года он был переведен в штаб-квартиру Военно-воздушных сил Армии в Пентагоне, штат Вирджиния, где стал помощником начальника штаба Военно-воздушных сил по разведке. В сентябре 1944 года Уайт был направлен в Юго-Западную часть Тихого океана, где стал заместителем командира Тринадцатой воздушной армии, участвуя в кампаниях в Новой Гвинее, на юге Филиппин и на Борнео. В июне следующего года он принял командование Седьмой воздушной армией, которая размещала свою штаб-квартиру на Марианских островах и немедленно перебазировалась с ней на недавно захваченную Окинаву. В январе 1946 года он вернулся с Седьмой воздушной армией на Гавайи. В октябре того же года он был назначен начальником штаба Тихоокеанского воздушного командования в Токио, Япония. Год спустя, в октябре 1947 года, Уайт принял командование Пятой воздушной армией в Японии. Переведенный в офис секретаря Военно-воздушных сил в октябре 1948 года, Уайт стал директором по законодательству и связям. В мае 1950 года он был назначен членом Объединенного стратегического оценочного комитета в Управлении объединенных начальников штабов. В феврале 1951 года он был назначен директором по планированию штаб-квартиры Военно-воздушных сил США, а в июле 1951 года принял обязанности заместителя начальника штаба по операциям Военно-воздушных сил. 30 июня 1953 года Уайт был повышен в звании до генерала и в тот же день назначен заместителем начальника штаба Военно-воздушных сил США, став начальником штаба Военно-воздушных сил США 1 июля 1957 года. Он вышел в отставку 30 июня 1961 года.
In June 1927, White was assigned to duty as a student of the Chinese language in Peking, China. Four years later, he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters Air Corps, Washington, D. C.
White was named assistant military attache for air to Russia in February 1934. A year later, he was appointed assistant military attache for air to Italy and Greece, with station at Rome. White graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama, in May 1938. He then entered Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was named an outstanding alumni of the class 1939 and upon completion of this training was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D. C.
In April 1940, White became military attache to Brazil and the following August was named chief of the U. S. Military Air Mission to Brazil. Returning to the United States in March 1942, White was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations of the Third Air Force at MacDill Field, Florida, and subsequently named chief of staff. Reassigned to Army Air Forces Headquarters at The Pentagon, Virginia, in January 1944, he became assistant chief of air staff for intelligence. Proceeding to the Southwest Pacific in September 1944, White assumed duty as the deputy commander of the Thirteenth Air Force, taking part in the campaigns of New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Borneo. The following June, he assumed command of the Seventh Air Force, which had based its headquarters in the Marianas and immediately moved with it to the recently taken Okinawa. In January 1946, he returned with the Seventh Air Force to Hawaii. That October, he was appointed chief of staff of the Pacific Air Command in Tokyo, Japan. One year later, in October 1947, White took command of the Fifth Air Force in Japan. Transferred to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in October 1948, White became director of the Legislation and Liaison. He was appointed, in May 1950, Air Force Member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was assigned as director of Plans, Headquarters U. S. Air Force, in February 1951, and in July 1951, assumed duties of deputy chief of staff of operations for the Air Force. White was promoted to the rank of general on June 30, 1953, and designated Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force at that time, becoming Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on July 1, 1957. He retired June 30, 1961.
Жизнь после военной службы
Сразу после выхода в отставку Уайт был избран членом совета директоров авиакомпании Eastern Air Lines. В 1963 году генерал Уайт был удостоен Мемориальной премии имени генерала Уильяма Митчелла, которая вручалась "гражданину США, внесшему наиболее значительный личный вклад в прогресс авиации". Уайт был рыбаком, аквариумистом и любителем-ихтиологом, и во время пребывания в Бразилии он вместе со своей женой, Констанс, собирал зоологические образцы, включая голотип рио-жемчужницы Nematolebias whitei, названной в его честь. Он скончался 22 декабря 1965 года в Военно-медицинском центре Уолтера Рида от лейкемии и похоронен на Арлингтонском национальном кладбище.