James E. Briggs
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
James Elbert Briggs (May 5, 1906 – February 25, 1979) was a United States Air Force
general who served as the second Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy
.
in 1906 the son of Bendsmin Robert and Marion Cypert Briggs. He entered the New York Military Academy
in 1920 and, as an honor graduate, in 1924 received a presidential appointment to the United States Military Academy
at West Point. He was "cadet first captain" (regimental commander) his last year at West Point and graduated 31st in a class of 261 in 1928. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery.
After his transfer to the U.S. Air Corps in 1930, Lieutenant Brings joined the 95th Pursuit Squadron at Rockwell Field
near Coronado, California
. He stayed with the 95th through its move in 1931 to March Field, California, and until he received orders in 1934 to attend the 10-month course at the Air Corps Technical School, Chanute Field, Illinois.
The period from August 1935 to August 1937 was spent in Hawaii with the 18th Composite Group and as commander of the 19th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field on the Island of Oahu
. After serving next in several command and staff positions with the 1st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field
, Michigan, Captain Brings turned in 1940 to the U.S. Military Academy where he spent the next two years as a member of the faculty in the Department of Mathematics.
In May 1942, the then Colonel Briggs was appointed operations officer of the Eighth Air Force Fighter Command in Europe and in September 1943 became air officer of the European Section of the War Department General Staff.
Colonel Briggs became deputy commander of the North Atlantic Divisions Air Transport Command, in March 1945, and in December of that year went to Air Transport Command headquarters as assistant chief of staff for plans and chief of organizational planning. In April 1946, he became a member of the Central Intelligence Group in Washington, D.C.
Moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado in August 1947, he became chief of staff for the Fifteenth Air Force, and in April 1948 went to Spokane Air Force Base, Washington to assume command of the 92nd sad 98th Bombardment wings. After promotion to brigadier general in December 1948, he moved to MacDill Air Force Base
Florida in March 1949, and became commander of the 306th and 307th Bombardment wings.
Following the outbreak of the Korean War
, Briggs was assigned in August 1950 as deputy commander of the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, based on Okinawa and later in Japan. In January 1951, he assumed command of the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, and in July 1951, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
after completion of his tour as commander.
Briggs returned to the United States in June 1951 to became deputy commander of the Fifteenth Air Force at March Air Force Base, California. He was promoted to the rank of major general in October 1951 while at March Air Force Base and one month later was reassigned to Washington, D.C., as assistant deputy chief of staff for Development, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. In May 1954, he was named assistant deputy chief of staff for operations and was given the additional duty of U.S. Air Force Member of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, Canada-United States. During this period, Briggs also was Headquarters, U.S. Air Force project officer for the Distant Early Warning Line
in Canada and for the U.S. Air Force Base Construction and Activation Program in Spain.
Briggs became the second superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy on August 1, 1956, when he succeeded Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon
. He guided the operation of the new academy during two of its three years at the interim site on Lowry Air Force Base
, near Denver, Colorado, and the move in August 1958 to the permanent home of the academy north of Colorado Springs Colorado.
On August 1, 1959, he assumed command of the Air Training Command
, Randolph Air Force Base
, Texas, at which time he was promoted to lieutenant general. Brigss retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1963.
In addition to the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
, Briggs' decorations included the Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster
, the Distinguished Flying Cross
and the Air Medal
.
Briggs was a member of Rotary International
, the Order of Daedalians
, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, vice chairman for the campaign committee of the Texas United Fund and a member of the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Foundation. On 23 November 1958 he appeared as a guest on the panel game show What's My Line?
Briggs died on February 25, 1979.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
James Elbert Briggs (May 5, 1906 – February 25, 1979) was a 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...
general who served as the second Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
.
Early years
He was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
in 1906 the son of Bendsmin Robert and Marion Cypert Briggs. He entered the New York Military Academy
New York Military Academy
New York Military Academy, or NYMA, is an American private boarding school located in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York. It was founded in 1889 by Charles Jefferson Wright, a Civil War veteran and former school teacher from New Hampshire who believed that a military structure provided the best...
in 1920 and, as an honor graduate, in 1924 received a presidential appointment to the United States Military Academy
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...
at West Point. He was "cadet first captain" (regimental commander) his last year at West Point and graduated 31st in a class of 261 in 1928. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery.
Military career
Second Lieutenant Briggs' first assignment was to the Sixth Field Artillery Regiment at Fort Hoyle, Maryland. After spending nine months at Fort Hoyle, he entered Primary Flying School and in 1930, received his pilot's wings upon graduation from the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. Briggs was rated a command pilot.After his transfer to the U.S. Air Corps in 1930, Lieutenant Brings joined the 95th Pursuit Squadron at Rockwell Field
Rockwell Field
Rockwell Field was an Army air base located in Coronado, California, near San Diego. It shared the area known as North Island with Naval Air Station North Island from 1912 to 1935. Its functions were eventually moved to March Field so that the naval air station could take over the whole area...
near Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
. He stayed with the 95th through its move in 1931 to March Field, California, and until he received orders in 1934 to attend the 10-month course at the Air Corps Technical School, Chanute Field, Illinois.
The period from August 1935 to August 1937 was spent in Hawaii with the 18th Composite Group and as commander of the 19th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field on the Island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. After serving next in several command and staff positions with the 1st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field
Selfridge Field
Selfridge Air National Guard Base or Selfridge ANGB is an Air National Guard installation located in Harrison Township, Michigan, near Mount Clemens.-Units and organizations:...
, Michigan, Captain Brings turned in 1940 to the U.S. Military Academy where he spent the next two years as a member of the faculty in the Department of Mathematics.
In May 1942, the then Colonel Briggs was appointed operations officer of the Eighth Air Force Fighter Command in Europe and in September 1943 became air officer of the European Section of the War Department General Staff.
Colonel Briggs became deputy commander of the North Atlantic Divisions Air Transport Command, in March 1945, and in December of that year went to Air Transport Command headquarters as assistant chief of staff for plans and chief of organizational planning. In April 1946, he became a member of the Central Intelligence Group in Washington, D.C.
Moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado in August 1947, he became chief of staff for the Fifteenth Air Force, and in April 1948 went to Spokane Air Force Base, Washington to assume command of the 92nd sad 98th Bombardment wings. After promotion to brigadier general in December 1948, he moved to MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
Florida in March 1949, and became commander of the 306th and 307th Bombardment wings.
Following the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Briggs was assigned in August 1950 as deputy commander of the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, based on Okinawa and later in Japan. In January 1951, he assumed command of the Far East Air Forces Bomber Command, and in July 1951, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air 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...
after completion of his tour as commander.
Briggs returned to the United States in June 1951 to became deputy commander of the Fifteenth Air Force at March Air Force Base, California. He was promoted to the rank of major general in October 1951 while at March Air Force Base and one month later was reassigned to Washington, D.C., as assistant deputy chief of staff for Development, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. In May 1954, he was named assistant deputy chief of staff for operations and was given the additional duty of U.S. Air Force Member of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, Canada-United States. During this period, Briggs also was Headquarters, U.S. Air Force project officer for the Distant Early Warning Line
Distant Early Warning Line
The Distant Early Warning Line, also known as the DEW Line or Early Warning Line, was a system of radar stations in the far northern Arctic region of Canada, with additional stations along the North Coast and Aleutian Islands of Alaska, in addition to the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland...
in Canada and for the U.S. Air Force Base Construction and Activation Program in Spain.
Briggs became the second superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy on August 1, 1956, when he succeeded Lieutenant General Hubert R. Harmon
Hubert R. Harmon
Lieutenant General Hubert Reilly Harmon , after a distinguished combat career in World War II, was instrumental in developing plans for the establishment of the United States Air Force Academy...
. He guided the operation of the new academy during two of its three years at the interim site on Lowry Air Force Base
Lowry Air Force Base
Lowry Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in the cities of Aurora and Denver, Colorado. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training and was heavily involved with the training of United States Army Air Forces bomber crews during World...
, near Denver, Colorado, and the move in August 1958 to the permanent home of the academy north of Colorado Springs Colorado.
On August 1, 1959, he assumed command of 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 Air Force Base
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, at which time he was promoted to lieutenant general. Brigss retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1963.
In addition to the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air 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...
, Briggs' decorations included 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 oak leaf cluster
Oak leaf cluster
An oak leaf cluster is a common device which is placed on U.S. Army and Air Force awards and decorations to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration. The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration...
, 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:...
.
Briggs was a member of Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, the Order of Daedalians
Order of Daedalians
The Order of Daedalians is a fraternal and professional order of American military pilots. The namesake of the order is Daedalus who according to Greek mythology was the first person to achieve heavier-than-air flight.-History:...
, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, vice chairman for the campaign committee of the Texas United Fund and a member of the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Foundation. On 23 November 1958 he appeared as a guest on the panel game show What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
Briggs died on February 25, 1979.