Ernest T. Cragg
Encyclopedia
Ernest T. Cragg was a Major General
in the United States Air Force
.
. He spent his youth in the Greenwhich
/Cos Cob area of Connecticut
, graduating from Greenwich High School in 1939. He subsequently attended the Stanton Preparatory Academy
in Cornwall New York to complete work needed for enrollment in the United States Military Academy.
Cragg entered what became the first of the World War II
accelerated 3-year West Point
classes, completing basic flight training by graduation on June 1, 1943. He received advanced flight training at Craig Field
and Matagorda Island
.
After training, he was assigned to the 401st fighter bomber squadron
, 370th fighter group, which joined the 9th Air Force in England in early 1944. He served the squadron as pilot, flight commander and assistant operations officer. The unit began combat operations May 1, 1944. By October he had competed 76 combat missions, totaling 175 flying hours in P-38
and P-51
aircraft. During those missions he compiled an air-to-air combat
record of 2 confirmed kills, 2 probable kills and 1 damaged. He flew two air cover missions over the Normandy Invasion fleet on D-Day
.
Having completed his combat tour, rather than return to the US, he requested and received an assignment to the 9th Infantry Division and the 9th Armored Division as air liaison officer and forward air controller; then to the IX Tactical Air Command as combat operations duty officer. By V-E
Day he had attained the rank of major
and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
and the Air Medal
with 13 oak leaf clusters.
In the days following the end of the war he met and subsequently married, while still in Germany, his wife, First Lieutenant
Helen Claire Petraborg, a nurse with the 91st Evacuation Hospital. After the wedding she returned to the United States while he made preparations to go to the Pacific for the then expected invasion of Japan
. With the surrender of Japan, he stayed on in Germany for another year, serving in the occupation
with the 70th Fighter Wing
at Neubiberg
, Germany, as the assistant chief of staff, operations.
at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, as director of special weapons. While a Lieutenant Colonel
he became the commander of the 563rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron
(which flew F-86
aircraft) at Clovis (now Cannon
) AFB in New Mexico
. He led the squadron on its "Fly Away" to Bitburg Air Base
Germany in 1954. His next assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force
in Ramstein
, Germany. There he served as chief, Special Weapons Division; chief, Tactical Operations Division; and later deputy director of operations and training. In January 1958 he was appointed director of the Combat Operations Center, Twelfth Air Force, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe Advanced Echelon, (aka Kindsbach Cave)
In 1958 then Colonel
Cragg returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters, USAF in the Pentagon
.
In 1963, Colonel Cragg became first the vice commander, and then the commander of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing (flying F-100s
) at RAF Wethersfield
England. He also served as commander of the 3500th Pilot Training Wing (flying T-37s and T-38s
) at Reese AFB
outside Lubbock, Texas, which he considered his favorite and most challenging assignment.
Upon his promotion to Brigadier General
he became deputy chief of staff, operations, the Air Training Command
, Randolph AFB
Texas. In 1969 he returned to the Pentagon, first as Assistant Director and then as Deputy Director of Aerospace Programs (after receiving his second star).
With the death of his wife Helen in 1972, General Cragg was reassigned to be Vice Commander of Second Air Force
at Barksdale AFB
. A year later he became the commander of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton AFB
, California. His final assignment was as chief of staff of the Allied Air Forces Southern Europe
, based in Naples, Italy.
A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, he retired in 1975.
with one oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit
with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
, the Air Medal
with 13 oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal
, the Army Commendation Medal
, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
, and the Belgian Fourragère
.
. This company was chartered to provide the logistical planning and management for all US travel to the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow. The US boycott of those games effectively ended operations for that company.
After the Olympics, RTB-Olympic travel was reorganized in Washington DC as a combination of Travelmasters International, Plane Travel, and The Society of Military Travelers. General Cragg served as chief executive officer. The companies catered to military personnel and their families. In this capacity he wrote a space available travel guide for retired military personnel. The agency's specialites were hunting trips (to Turkey and the former Yugoslavia) and trips to World War II European battlefields. With the advent of 50th anniversaries of various battles he was quite active, culminating in a formal dinner in England sponsored by Queen Elizabeth on the evening before the 50th anniversary of D-Day
General Cragg was an outdoors man and hunter. He was active with the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited
serving his home in Arlington, Virginia. He hunted ducks&geese on Maryland's Eastern Shore; white tail deer, dove, quail & wild turkey in Texas; and pheasants in North Dakota.
He died on March 9, 2006 and was buried with full military honors alongside his first wife Helen in Section 5, Plot 104 Arlington National Cemetery
.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
Pre World War II
Ernest T. Cragg was born in Mount Vernon, New YorkMount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
. He spent his youth in the Greenwhich
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
/Cos Cob area of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, graduating from Greenwich High School in 1939. He subsequently attended the Stanton Preparatory Academy
Stanton Preparatory Academy
Stanton Preparatory Academy was founded in 1925 to prepare young men for entrance to the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. The school was located in Cornwall, New York five miles from West Point. The school was founded and led by...
in Cornwall New York to complete work needed for enrollment in the United States Military Academy.
World War II
On July 1, 1940, then CadetOfficer Cadet
Officer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
Cragg entered what became the first of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
accelerated 3-year West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
classes, completing basic flight training by graduation on June 1, 1943. He received advanced flight training at Craig Field
Craig Air Force Base
Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama, was a U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training base that closed in 1977. As an active air force base, Craig had two parallel runways, a large aircraft parking ramp and several large maintenance hangars....
and Matagorda Island
Matagorda Island AFB
Matagorda Island AFB is an abandoned airfield located northeast of Corpus Christi, Texas.-History:In 1943 a bombing and gunnery range was constructed on the north end of Matagorda Island...
.
After training, he was assigned to the 401st fighter bomber squadron
401st Fighter Squadron
The 401st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 370th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts...
, 370th fighter group, which joined the 9th Air Force in England in early 1944. He served the squadron as pilot, flight commander and assistant operations officer. The unit began combat operations May 1, 1944. By October he had competed 76 combat missions, totaling 175 flying hours in P-38
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
and P-51
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
aircraft. During those missions he compiled an air-to-air combat
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
record of 2 confirmed kills, 2 probable kills and 1 damaged. He flew two air cover missions over the Normandy Invasion fleet on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
.
Having completed his combat tour, rather than return to the US, he requested and received an assignment to the 9th Infantry Division and the 9th Armored Division as air liaison officer and forward air controller; then to the IX Tactical Air Command as combat operations duty officer. By V-E
Victory in Europe Day
Victory in Europe Day commemorates 8 May 1945 , the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not...
Day he had attained the rank of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
and the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with 13 oak leaf clusters.
In the days following the end of the war he met and subsequently married, while still in Germany, his wife, First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Helen Claire Petraborg, a nurse with the 91st Evacuation Hospital. After the wedding she returned to the United States while he made preparations to go to the Pacific for the then expected invasion of Japan
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
. With the surrender of Japan, he stayed on in Germany for another year, serving in the occupation
Allied Occupation Zones in Germany
The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, US forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the...
with the 70th Fighter Wing
70th Fighter Wing (World War II)
The 70th Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with thr United States Air Forces in Europe, based at Neubiberg Air Base, Germany...
at Neubiberg
Neubiberg Air Base
Neubiberg Air Base is a former German and United States Air Force airfield which was closed in 1991. It is located 9 km south of the city of Munich, Germany....
, Germany, as the assistant chief of staff, operations.
Military career after World War II
After the war, he served in the Tactical Air CommandTactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, as director of special weapons. While a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
he became the commander of the 563rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron
563d Flying Training Squadron
The 563d Flying Training Squadron is part of the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. It operates the T-43 Bobcat conducting navigator training.-History:...
(which flew F-86
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
aircraft) at Clovis (now Cannon
Cannon Air Force Base
Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command ....
) AFB in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He led the squadron on its "Fly Away" to Bitburg Air Base
Bitburg Air Base
Bitburg Airport is a commercial airport serving Bitburg, a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. It is located 2 miles southeast of Bitburg, 20 miles north of Trier, and 135 miles west of Wiesbaden....
Germany in 1954. His next assignment was with the Twelfth Air Force
Air Forces Southern
The Twelfth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona....
in Ramstein
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, Germany. There he served as chief, Special Weapons Division; chief, Tactical Operations Division; and later deputy director of operations and training. In January 1958 he was appointed director of the Combat Operations Center, Twelfth Air Force, and U.S. Air Forces in Europe Advanced Echelon, (aka Kindsbach Cave)
In 1958 then Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Cragg returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters, USAF in the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
In 1963, Colonel Cragg became first the vice commander, and then the commander of the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing (flying F-100s
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
) at RAF Wethersfield
RAF Wethersfield
MDPGA Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England; it is located north of the village of Wethersfield—about north-west of the town of Braintree...
England. He also served as commander of the 3500th Pilot Training Wing (flying T-37s and T-38s
T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
) at Reese AFB
Reese Air Force Base
Reese Air Force Base was a base of the United States Air Force located 6 mi west of Lubbock, Texas, about 225 mi WNW of Fort Worth...
outside Lubbock, Texas, which he considered his favorite and most challenging assignment.
Upon his promotion to Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
he became deputy chief of staff, operations, the Air Training Command
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
, Randolph AFB
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
Texas. In 1969 he returned to the Pentagon, first as Assistant Director and then as Deputy Director of Aerospace Programs (after receiving his second star).
With the death of his wife Helen in 1972, General Cragg was reassigned to be Vice Commander of Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
at Barksdale AFB
Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
. A year later he became the commander of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton AFB
Norton Air Force Base
Norton Air Force Base is a former front-line United States Air Force facility located east of downtown San Bernardino, California in San Bernardino County.-Overview:...
, California. His final assignment was as chief of staff of the Allied Air Forces Southern Europe
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Allied Joint Force Command Naples is a NATO military command. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after what was effectively a redesignation of its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe , originally formed in 1951...
, based in Naples, Italy.
A command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours, he retired in 1975.
Decorations
General Cragg's decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
with one oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
, the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with 13 oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
, the Army Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
, and the Belgian Fourragère
Fourragère
The fourragère is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, that is shaped as a braided cord. The award has been firstly adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal.- History :...
.
Command Pilot BadgeUnited States Aviator BadgeA United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation....
(more than 3,000 flying hours / 15 years as rated pilot)
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
with one oak leaf cluster
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with thirteen oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Activities after Retirement
Upon retiring from the military, he became general director of RTB-Olympic Travel Limited in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. This company was chartered to provide the logistical planning and management for all US travel to the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow. The US boycott of those games effectively ended operations for that company.
After the Olympics, RTB-Olympic travel was reorganized in Washington DC as a combination of Travelmasters International, Plane Travel, and The Society of Military Travelers. General Cragg served as chief executive officer. The companies catered to military personnel and their families. In this capacity he wrote a space available travel guide for retired military personnel. The agency's specialites were hunting trips (to Turkey and the former Yugoslavia) and trips to World War II European battlefields. With the advent of 50th anniversaries of various battles he was quite active, culminating in a formal dinner in England sponsored by Queen Elizabeth on the evening before the 50th anniversary of D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
General Cragg was an outdoors man and hunter. He was active with the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was...
serving his home in Arlington, Virginia. He hunted ducks&geese on Maryland's Eastern Shore; white tail deer, dove, quail & wild turkey in Texas; and pheasants in North Dakota.
He died on March 9, 2006 and was buried with full military honors alongside his first wife Helen in Section 5, Plot 104 Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.