James V. Hartinger
Encyclopedia
General James Vincent Hartinger (April 17, 1925 – October 9, 2000) was a United States Air Force
four star general who served as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD) from 1980 to 1981; Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD) from 1981 to 1982; North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command
(CINCNORAD/COMAFSPC) from 1982 to 1984.
Hartinger was born in 1925, in Middleport, Ohio
, where he graduated from high school in 1943. He received a bachelor of science degree from the United States Military Academy
in 1949, and a master's degree in business administration from the George Washington University
, Washington, D.C., in 1963. He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School
at Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama, in 1955 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
at Fort Lesley J. McNair
, Washington, D.C., in 1966.
He was drafted into the United States Army
in July 1943 and attained the grade of sergeant while serving in the infantry. Following World War II he entered the academy and upon graduation in 1949 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
General Hartinger attended pilot training at Randolph Air Force Base
, Texas, and Williams Air Force Base
, Arizona, where he graduated in August 1950. He then was assigned as a jet fighter pilot with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
, Germany. In December 1952 he joined the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Kunsan Air Base
, South Korea. While there he flew his first combat missions in F-84 Thunderjet
s.
Returning to Williams Air Force Base in July 1953, he served as a gunnery instructor with the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron. Hartinger then transferred to Stewart Air Force Base
, New York, in August 1954 as a fighter pilot and air operations officer in the 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. During this period he attended Squadron Officer School.
In July 1958 Hartinger began a four-year tour of duty in the Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. After receiving his master's degree in June 1963, he was assigned to Hickam Air Force Base
, Hawaii, in the Directorate of Plans, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.
Following graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1966, he completed F-4C Phantom replacement training with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base
, Florida. From December 1966 to December 1967, he was assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base
, Republic of Vietnam. He completed more than 100 aerial combat missions while assigned in the Republic of Vietnam.
In 1968 Hartinger was the F-111
test director at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and then took command of the famed "Flying Tigers," the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-105 Thunderchief
s at McConnell Air Force Base
, Kansas. He became deputy chief of staff for plans at North American Air Defense Command headquarters, Ent Air Force Base
, Colorado, in June 1970. He moved to Maxwell Air Force Base in May 1973 as commandant of the Air War College
.
From July 1975 until June 1978, Hartinger was commander of the Tactical Air Command
's 9th Air Force with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base
, South Carolina. He then was commander of Tactical Air Command's 12th Air Force with headquarters at Bergstrom Air Force Base
, Texas. He became commander in chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command in January 1980. Barry Corbin
's character in WarGames
is based on General Hartinger in this role.
He was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours and was the first recipient of the Master Space Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit
with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross
, Air Medal
with eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal
and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tung II. Hartinger also received an honorary doctor of military science from Norwich University
in Vermont in 1982, and an honorary doctor of laws from the University of Akron
in 1983. In 1975, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
. The National Defense Industrial Association
named the Hartinger Medal after him, which is presented annually to an individual who made a significant contribution to the military space mission of the United States. During World War II, he became friends with the musician Hardrock Gunter
, who was in his unit, and they remained close until Hartinger's death on October 9, 2000.
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...
four star general who served as Commander in Chief, North American Air Defense Command (CINCNORAD) from 1980 to 1981; Commander in Chief, North American Aerospace Defense Command (CINCNORAD) from 1981 to 1982; North American Aerospace Defense Command/Commander, Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command
Air Force Space Command is a major command of the United States Department of the Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations....
(CINCNORAD/COMAFSPC) from 1982 to 1984.
Hartinger was born in 1925, in Middleport, Ohio
Middleport, Ohio
Middleport is a village in Meigs County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,525 at the 2000 census.Middleport was the home of Walter "Mother" Watson, a Major League Baseball pitcher.-Geography:...
, where he graduated from high school in 1943. He received a bachelor of science degree from 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...
in 1949, and a master's degree in business administration from the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, Washington, D.C., in 1963. He is also a graduate of Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School
Squadron Officer School , is a five-week long Professional Military Education course for U.S. Air Force Captains. It fulfills the U.S. Air Force's requirement for primary developmental education . SOS is based at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and the in-residence version of the course is taught there...
at Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Alabama, in 1955 and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
at Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of a peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To its west is the Washington Channel, while the Anacostia River is on its south side...
, Washington, D.C., in 1966.
He was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in July 1943 and attained the grade of sergeant while serving in the infantry. Following World War II he entered the academy and upon graduation in 1949 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.
General Hartinger attended pilot training at 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, and Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
, Arizona, where he graduated in August 1950. He then was assigned as a jet fighter pilot with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base is a German Air Force airfield located near the town of Fürstenfeldbruck in Bavaria, near Munich, Germany....
, Germany. In December 1952 he joined the 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Kunsan Air Base
Kunsan Air Base
Kunsan Air Base , is a United States Air Force base located on the west coast of the South Korean peninsula bordered by the Yellow Sea. It is at the town of Gunsan about 150 miles south of Seoul. The town can be romanized as both Gunsan and Kunsan...
, South Korea. While there he flew his first combat missions in F-84 Thunderjet
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
s.
Returning to Williams Air Force Base in July 1953, he served as a gunnery instructor with the 3526th Pilot Training Squadron. Hartinger then transferred to Stewart Air Force Base
Stewart Air National Guard Base
Stewart Air National Guard Base is the home of the 105th Airlift Wing , an Air Mobility Command -gained unit of the New York Air National Guard and "host" wing for the installation...
, New York, in August 1954 as a fighter pilot and air operations officer in the 331st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. During this period he attended Squadron Officer School.
In July 1958 Hartinger began a four-year tour of duty in the Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. After receiving his master's degree in June 1963, he was assigned to Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
, Hawaii, in the Directorate of Plans, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces.
Following graduation from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in June 1966, he completed F-4C Phantom replacement training with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at 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. From December 1966 to December 1967, he was assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base
Tan Son Nhut Air Base
Tan Son Nhut Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. It is located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
, Republic of Vietnam. He completed more than 100 aerial combat missions while assigned in the Republic of Vietnam.
In 1968 Hartinger was the F-111
General Dynamics F-111
The General Dynamics F-111 "Aardvark" was a medium-range interdictor and tactical strike aircraft that also filled the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare in its various versions. Developed in the 1960s by General Dynamics, it first entered service in 1967 with the...
test director at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and then took command of the famed "Flying Tigers," the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, flying F-105 Thunderchief
F-105 Thunderchief
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, was a supersonic fighter-bomber used by the United States Air Force. The Mach 2 capable F-105 conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Vietnam War; it has the dubious distinction of being the only US aircraft to have been...
s at McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell, both Air Force pilots and World War II...
, Kansas. He became deputy chief of staff for plans at North American Air Defense Command headquarters, Ent Air Force Base
Ent Air Force Base
Ent Air Force Base was a United States Air Force facility opened in 1951 on the site of a closed sanatorium in conjunction with the move of the United States Air Force's Air Defense Command, later Aerospace Defense Command , to Colorado Springs, Colorado...
, Colorado, in June 1970. He moved to Maxwell Air Force Base in May 1973 as commandant of the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
.
From July 1975 until June 1978, Hartinger was commander of the Tactical Air Command
Tactical 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...
's 9th Air Force with headquarters at Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina. He then was commander of Tactical Air Command's 12th Air Force with headquarters at Bergstrom Air Force Base
Bergstrom Air Force Base
Bergstrom Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located seven miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas. It was activated during World War II as a troop carrier training airfield, and was a front-line Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War...
, Texas. He became commander in chief of North American Aerospace Defense Command in January 1980. Barry Corbin
Barry Corbin
Leonard Barrie Corbin, known as Barry Corbin , is an American actor with more than one hundred film, television and video game credits.-Early life:...
's character in WarGames
WarGames
WarGames is a 1983 American Cold War suspense/science-fiction film written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes and directed by John Badham. The film stars Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy....
is based on General Hartinger in this role.
He was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours and was the first recipient of the Master Space Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
, 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...
with oak leaf cluster, 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, 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...
, 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 eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal
Combat Readiness Medal
The Combat Readiness Medal is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1964. The original Combat Readiness Medal was an award senior to the Air Force Commendation Medal and was awarded for superior and meritorious duty to the United States Air Force...
and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tung II. Hartinger also received an honorary doctor of military science from Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
in Vermont in 1982, and an honorary doctor of laws from the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
in 1983. In 1975, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame
The US Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame, located in Baltimore, Maryland, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, is operated by US Lacrosse...
. The National Defense Industrial Association
National Defense Industrial Association
The National Defense Industrial Association is an association for the United States government and the defense industry. Based in Arlington, Virginia, NDIA was established in 1919 as a result of the inability of the defense industry to scale up the war effort during World War I...
named the Hartinger Medal after him, which is presented annually to an individual who made a significant contribution to the military space mission of the United States. During World War II, he became friends with the musician Hardrock Gunter
Hardrock Gunter
Sidney Louie Gunter Jr. , known as Hardrock Gunter, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music at the turn of the 1950s prefigured rock and roll and rockabilly music....
, who was in his unit, and they remained close until Hartinger's death on October 9, 2000.