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{{short description|US Air Force general}}
{{short description|US Air Force general (1901–1965)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| name = Thomas D. White
| name = Thomas D. White
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| image_size =
| image_size =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = US Air Force Photo
| caption = US Air Force photo
| nickname = Tom
| nickname = Tom
| birth_date = {{birth date|1901|8|6}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1901|8|6}}
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==Life and military career==
==Life and military career==
[[File:Thomas Dresser White (1901–1965) at West Point in 1920.png|thumb|left|150px|At West Point in 1920]]
⚫
White was born in [[Walker, Minnesota]], on August 6, 1901. His father was [[John Chanler White]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dallman|first=V. Y.|url=https://archive.org/details/marytoddlincolnlinc_4/page/n33/|title=Lighter Vein|date=1942|work=The State Register}}</ref> Upon graduation from the [[United States Military Academy]] on July 2, 1920, he was commissioned a [[second lieutenant]] of [[Infantry]] and immediately promoted to [[first lieutenant]].

⚫
White was born in [[Walker, Minnesota]], on August 6, 1901.<ref name=Dead>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114619709/gen-t-white-ex-air-chief-is-dead-at/ |title=Gen. T. White, Ex-Air Chief, is Dead at 64 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |location=Washington |agency=AP |page=78 |date=1965-12-23 |access-date=2022-12-14 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> His father was [[John Chanler White]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dallman|first=V. Y.|url=https://archive.org/details/marytoddlincolnlinc_4/page/n33/|title=Lighter Vein|date=1942|work=The State Register}}</ref> Upon graduation from the [[United States Military Academy]] on July 2, 1920, he was commissioned a [[second lieutenant]] of [[Infantry Branch (United States)|Infantry]] and immediately promoted to [[first lieutenant]].


Entering the [[United States Army Infantry School|Infantry School]] at [[Fort Benning, Georgia]], White graduated in July 1921, and was assigned duty with the [[14th Infantry Regiment (United States)|14th Infantry Regiment]] at [[Fort Davis, Panama|Fort Davis]], [[Panama Canal Zone]].
Entering the [[United States Army Infantry School|Infantry School]] at [[Fort Benning, Georgia]], White graduated in July 1921, and was assigned duty with the [[14th Infantry Regiment (United States)|14th Infantry Regiment]] at [[Fort Davis, Panama|Fort Davis]], [[Panama Canal Zone]].

⚫
[[File:Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Thomas D. White and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Curtis E. Lemay.jpg|left|thumb|Air Force Chief of Staff General Thomas D. White with [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force Vice Chief of Staff]] General [[Curtis LeMay|Curtis E. LeMay]] in White's office at [[The Pentagon]] 1957.]]
In September 1924, he entered Primary Flying School at [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], [[Texas]]. He graduated from Advanced Flying School at [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly Field]], Texas, in September 1925, and was assigned duty with the [[99th Observation Squadron]] at [[Bolling Air Force Base|Bolling Field]], [[Washington, D.C.]]
In September 1924, he entered Primary Flying School at [[Brooks Air Force Base|Brooks Field]], Texas. He graduated from Advanced Flying School at [[Kelly Air Force Base|Kelly Field]], Texas, in September 1925, and was assigned duty with the [[99th Observation Squadron]] at [[Bolling Air Force Base|Bolling Field]], Washington, D.C.

⚫
[[File:Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Thomas D. White and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Curtis E. Lemay.jpg|left|thumb|Air Force Chief of Staff General Thomas D. White with [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force Vice Chief of Staff]] General [[Curtis LeMay|Curtis E. LeMay]] in White's office at [[The Pentagon]] in 1957]]


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.
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.
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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 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 Air Force Base|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<ref>{{Cite book|last=Army command and general staff coll fort leavenworth ks.|title=Institutional Self-Study: United States Army Command and General Staff College, Volume 1.|date=1975|publisher=Army command and general staff coll fort leavenworth ks|oclc=45521126}}</ref> and upon completion of this training was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C.
White graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at [[Maxwell Air Force Base|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<ref>{{Cite book|last=Army command and general staff coll fort leavenworth ks.|title=Institutional Self-Study: United States Army Command and General Staff College, Volume 1.|date=1975|publisher=Army command and general staff coll fort leavenworth ks|oclc=45521126}}</ref> and upon completion of this training was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, D.C.

⚫
[[File:Gen Thomas D White.jpg|thumb|227x227px|General Thomas D. White in 1960.]]
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.
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.


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Reassigned to [[United States Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces Headquarters]] at [[The Pentagon]], Virginia, in January 1944, he became assistant chief of air staff for intelligence.
Reassigned to [[United States Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces Headquarters]] at [[The Pentagon]], Virginia, in January 1944, he became assistant chief of air staff for intelligence.


⚫
[[File:Gen Thomas D White.jpg|thumb|227x227px|General Thomas D. White in 1960]]
⚫
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 campaign#1944–1945|New Guinea]], [[Philippines campaign (1944–1945)|Southern Philippines]] and [[Borneo campaign|Borneo]]. The following June, he assumed command of the [[Seventh Air Force]], which had [[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|based its headquarters]] in the [[Marianas]] and immediately moved with it to the [[Battle of Okinawa|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.

⚫
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 campaign#1944–1945|New Guinea]], [[Philippines campaign (1944–1945)|Southern Philippines]] and [[Borneo campaign|Borneo]]. The following June, he assumed command of the [[Seventh Air Force]], which had [[Mariana and Palau Islands campaign|based its headquarters]] in the [[Marianas]] and immediately moved with it to the [[Battle of Okinawa|recently taken]] [[Okinawa Island|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.
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 (United States)|general]] on June 30, 1953, and designated [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force]] at that time,<ref name=biography>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/download/afhra-k168.1501-3/AFHRA%20K168.1501-3.pdf |title=Biography of General Thomas D. White |pages=16, 21–22 |date=May 11, 1956 |publisher=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |access-date=October 26, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> becoming [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force]] on July 1, 1957. He retired June 30, 1961.
White was promoted to the rank of [[General (United States)|general]] on June 30, 1953, and designated [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force]] at that time,<ref name=biography>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/download/afhra-k168.1501-3/AFHRA%20K168.1501-3.pdf |title=Biography of General Thomas D. White |pages=16, 21–22 |date=May 11, 1956 |publisher=[[Air Force Historical Research Agency]] |access-date=October 26, 2021 }}</ref> becoming [[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force]] on July 1, 1957. He retired June 30, 1961.


== Life after military ==
== Life after military ==
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White was a fisherman, [[Fish keeping|aquarist]] and amateur [[ichthyologist]] and while in Brazil he collected [[Zoological specimen]]s with his wife, Constance, including the [[Type (biology)|type]] of the Rio pearlfish ''[[Nematolebias whitei]]'' which was named in his honor.<ref name="ETYFish">{{cite web|url=http://www.etyfish.org/cyprinodontiformes1/|title=Order CYPRINODONTIFORMES: Families APLOCHEILIDAE and NOTHOBRANCHIIDAE|author1=Christopher Scharpf|author2=Kenneth J. Lazara|date=31 May 2019|work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database|publisher=Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara|accessdate=15 September 2019}}</ref>
White was a fisherman, [[Fish keeping|aquarist]] and amateur [[ichthyologist]] and while in Brazil he collected [[Zoological specimen]]s with his wife, Constance, including the [[Type (biology)|type]] of the Rio pearlfish ''[[Nematolebias whitei]]'' which was named in his honor.<ref name="ETYFish">{{cite web|url=http://www.etyfish.org/cyprinodontiformes1/|title=Order CYPRINODONTIFORMES: Families APLOCHEILIDAE and NOTHOBRANCHIIDAE|author1=Christopher Scharpf|author2=Kenneth J. Lazara|date=31 May 2019|work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database|publisher=Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara|accessdate=15 September 2019}}</ref>


He died on December 22, 1965, of leukemia and is buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].
He died at [[Walter Reed Army Medical Center]] on December 22, 1965, of leukemia, and is buried at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref name=Dead/>

He was posthumously inducted into the [[National Aviation Hall of Fame]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Enshrinee Thomas White |url=https://nationalaviation.org/enshrinee/thomas-dresser-white/ |website=nationalaviation.org |publisher=National Aviation Hall of Fame |access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref>


==Awards and decorations==
==Awards and decorations==
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|[[File:Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|60px]]
|[[File:Cordone di gran Croce OMRI BAR.svg|60px]]
|[[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]], Knight Grand Cross
|[[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]], Knight Grand Cross
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Knight Grand Cross Ribbon.png|width=60}}
|[[Order of Orange-Nassau]], Knight Grand Cross with Swords (Netherlands, 21 February 1962)<ref>Nationaal Archief, inventory 2.02.32, dossier 373, registry number 1075</ref>
|-
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Officer BAR.svg|width=60}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Officer BAR.svg|width=60}}
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|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
|}
|}
*White received at least three more foreign decorations.
*White received at least two more foreign decorations.


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1965 deaths]]
[[Category:1965 deaths]]
[[Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Joint Chiefs of Staff]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Staff of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Chiefs of staff of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Air Medal]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery]]
[[Category:Vice Chiefs of Staff of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Vice chiefs of staff of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:People from Walker, Minnesota]]
[[Category:People from Walker, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun]]
[[Category:Honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Deaths from leukemia in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Aviators from Minnesota]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces generals of World War II]]

Revision as of 11:15, 30 August 2024

Thomas D. White
US Air Force photo
Nickname(s)Tom
Born(1901-08-06)August 6, 1901
Walker, Minnesota
DiedDecember 22, 1965(1965-12-22) (aged 64)
Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Air Force
United States Army
Years of service1920–1961
RankGeneral
CommandsChief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
Fifth Air Force
Seventh Air Force
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsArmy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Air Medal (2)

General Thomas Dresser White (August 6, 1901 – December 22, 1965) was the fourth Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force.

Life and military career

At West Point in 1920

White was born in Walker, Minnesota, on August 6, 1901.[1] His father was John Chanler White.[2] Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy on July 2, 1920, he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry and immediately promoted to first lieutenant.

Entering the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, White graduated in July 1921, and was assigned duty with the 14th Infantry Regiment at Fort Davis, Panama Canal Zone.

In September 1924, he entered Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas. He graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, in September 1925, and was assigned duty with the 99th Observation Squadron at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C.

Air Force Chief of Staff General Thomas D. White with Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Curtis E. LeMay in White's office at The Pentagon in 1957

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[3] 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.

General Thomas D. White in 1960

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,[4] becoming Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force on July 1, 1957. He retired June 30, 1961.

Life after military

Right after his retirement White was elected a director in Eastern Air Lines.[5]

General White was the 1963 recipient of the General William E. Mitchell Memorial Award, which was awarded "the United States citizen making the outstanding individual contribution to aviation progress."[6]

White was a fisherman, aquarist and amateur ichthyologist and while in Brazil he collected Zoological specimens with his wife, Constance, including the type of the Rio pearlfish Nematolebias whitei which was named in his honor.[7]

He died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on December 22, 1965, of leukemia, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

He was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2011.[8]

Awards and decorations

US Air Force Command Pilot Badge
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 white ribbon with width-10 scarlet stripes at edges, separated from the white by width-2 ultramarine blue stripes.
 Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges
 Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Width-44 myrtle green ribbon with width-3 white stripes at the edges and five width-1 stripes down the center; the central white stripes are width-2 apart
 Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Rainbow ribbon with violet at the outer edges and going down the spectrum to red in the center World War I Victory Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
 American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
American Campaign Medal
Arrowhead
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Width-44 yellow ribbon with central width-4 Old Glory blue-white-scarlet stripe. At distance 6 from the edges are width-6 white-scarlet-white stripes.
 Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and four service stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with service star
Korean Service Medal
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Bronze star
 Philippine Liberation Medal with service star
Philippine Independence Medal
Order of the British Empire, Military version
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Knight Grand Cross
Order of Orange-Nassau, Knight Grand Cross with Swords (Netherlands, 21 February 1962)[9]
Order of the Southern Cross, Grand Officer (Brazil)
Order of the Rising Sun, grade unknown (Japan)
United Nations Korea Medal
  • White received at least two more foreign decorations.

References

  1. ^ a b "Gen. T. White, Ex-Air Chief, is Dead at 64". Chicago Tribune. Washington. AP. December 23, 1965. p. 78. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Dallman, V. Y. (1942). "Lighter Vein". The State Register.
  3. ^ Army command and general staff coll fort leavenworth ks. (1975). Institutional Self-Study: United States Army Command and General Staff College, Volume 1. Army command and general staff coll fort leavenworth ks. OCLC 45521126.
  4. ^ "Biography of General Thomas D. White" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. May 11, 1956. pp. 16, 21–22. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Who's Where". Aviation Week and Space Technology: 23. December 18, 1961.
  6. ^ "Who's Where". Aviation Week. April 15, 1963.
  7. ^ Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (May 31, 2019). "Order CYPRINODONTIFORMES: Families APLOCHEILIDAE and NOTHOBRANCHIIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Enshrinee Thomas White". nationalaviation.org. National Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Nationaal Archief, inventory 2.02.32, dossier 373, registry number 1075
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thomas D. White.
Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
1953–1957 		Succeeded by
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
1957–1961
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