Stephen Henry

BRIGADIER GENERAL STEPHEN W. HENRY

Retired Aug. 1, 1968. Died June 1, 1972.

Brigadier General Stephen W. Henry was born in 1916, in St. Paul, Minn., and was raised in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Dallas' Sunset High School in 1934 and entered the University of Texas, at Austin. He received a bachelor of science degree in business administration in 1940 from Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

The general earned his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant March 15, 1941.

Serving in the European - Mediterranean Theater of Operations for three and one-half years during World War II, the general flew 70 combat missions as a B-17 pilot. He earned the Silver Star, the nation's third highest combat award.

The general twice received the Distinguished Flying Cross, and he was awarded the Air Medal and nine oak leaf clusters as well as the Croix de Guerre, presented to him by the French government.

After the war, General Henry served in several assignments as an operations officer and in late 1949 he became one of the first U.S. Air Force officers selected to attend the year-long course of the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell, England. Beginning in 1951 he served as a staff officer in the War Plans Division, Headquarter U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

The general attended Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, A1a., graduating in mid-1955 when he joined Strategic Air Command's 303rd Bomb Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., as director of operations. During his 303rd Wing assignment, he became jet qualified in B-47 aircraft.

In late 1957 the general went to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, as chief of Strategic Air Command's Task Force Team and converted to deputy commander of the 5010th Air Base Wing of Alaskan Air Command. In July 1959 he became Eielson's wing-base commander.

Two years later he was assigned to Mather Air Force Base, Calif., as deputy commander of the 3535th Navigator Training Wing which operates all U.S. Air Force navigator schools. He assumed command of the wing in August 1963.

As wing commander he is directly in charge of all U.S. Air Force navigator, navigator-bombardier and electronic warfare officer training. As Mather Air Force Base's senior officer he also has jurisdiction over the entire base and is responsible for support of Strategic Air Command's 320th Bombardment Wing and other Mather tenant organizations.

General Henry has logged more than 6, 000 flying hours and holds the aeronautical rating of command pilot.

Standing in middle: Major Cator - Command Pilot 301st BG on the March 24th 1945 mission to Berlin

Kneeling L to R: Capt Birkenbuel - Pilot; 1st Lt. James Blauert - Bombardier: unknown member

Lt. Col. Stephen W Henry was assigned to the 301st BG 352nd Squadron.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS): Pilot - Asst. Wing Operations Officer.

The following information on Stephen Henry is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on Lt. Col. Henry. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to Stephen Henry's military record please contact us.

	Rank	General Order	Date	Notes	Award	Ribbon & Device
Stephen Henry	Lt Col	2971	08/31/1944		DFC/OLC
Stephen Henry	Lt Col	3411	09/16/1944		AM/9OLC
Stephen Henry	Lt Col	3572	09/23/1944		SS