Jerome F. O'Malley
Encyclopedia
General Jerome Francis O'Malley (February 25, 1932 – April 20, 1985) was a United States Air Force
four star general who served as Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1982 to 1983; Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF) from 1983 to 1984; and Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC) from 1984 to 1985. He died in an airplane crash while still in office.
O'Malley was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania
, and graduated from St. Rose Parochial School in 1949. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
, West Point, New York, in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree in military science and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. O'Malley completed the Air Command and Staff College
at Maxwell Air Force Base
, Alabama, and concurrently earned a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1965, and graduated from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in 1970.
After receiving his pilot wings in August 1954 at Bryan Air Force Base
, Texas, O'Malley received jet training in F-86 Sabrejets at Perrin Air Force Base
, Texas.
In January 1955 he was assigned as an air training officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy, then located at Lowry Air Force Base
, Colorado. He attended B-47
transition training at McConnell Air Force Base
, Kansas, from December 1957 to February 1958, and was then assigned as a B-47 pilot with the 529th Bombardment Squadron at Plattsburgh Air Force Base
, New York. From June 1960 to August 1964, O'Malley served as an aide to General Hunter Harris, who was 8th Air Force commander at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and then vice commander in chief, Strategic Air Command
, Offutt Air Force Base
, Nebraska.
Following graduation with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College in June 1965, O'Malley served as a pilot with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base
, California. While there he flew the first operational mission of the SR-71. In July 1969 he entered the Naval War College.
From July 1970 to April 1971, he was director of operations for the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base
, Idaho, and flew RF-4Cs. O'Malley then left for Southeast Asia and served as vice commander and later commander of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base
, Republic of Vietnam. In September 1971 he was assigned as vice commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base
, Thailand. He flew 116 combat missions in F-4D's and RF-4Cs.
He commanded the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base from May 1972 to May 1973. He was then named commander of the 22nd Bombardment Wing, March Air Force Base, California, and later served as chief of staff for 15th Air Force, also located at March Air Force Base. He was then assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans at SAC headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, from July 1974 to June 1975, when he was named deputy chief of staff for operations plans.
In January 1977 he moved to Washington, D.C., for duty as vice director for operations, Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. O'Malley served as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, plans and readiness at U.S. Air Force headquarters, from May 1979 to August 1980, when he became deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. He was appointed vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force in June 1982 and in October 1983 was named commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base
, Hawaii. He assumed command of Tactical Air Command
in September 1984.
O'Malley was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours. His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters, Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal Honor Class and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm.
O'Malley died on April 20, 1985 with his wife Diane when the CT-39 Sabreliner they were in experienced brake failure at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.
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 Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force (VCSAF) from 1982 to 1983; Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces (CINCPACAF) from 1983 to 1984; and Commander, Tactical Air Command (COMTAC) from 1984 to 1985. He died in an airplane crash while still in office.
O'Malley was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carbondale is located approximately 15 miles due northeast of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania...
, and graduated from St. Rose Parochial School in 1949. He graduated 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...
, West Point, New York, in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree in military science and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. O'Malley completed the Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
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, and concurrently earned a master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1965, and graduated from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in 1970.
After receiving his pilot wings in August 1954 at Bryan Air Force Base
Bryan Air Force Base
Bryan Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located just west of Bryan, Texas. Today, the location houses the Texas A&M University Riverside Campus.-World War II:...
, Texas, O'Malley received jet training in F-86 Sabrejets at Perrin Air Force Base
Perrin Air Force Base
Perrin Air Force Base is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 7 miles northeast of Sherman, Texas. It was active during World War II as pilot training airfield and during the Cold War as a combat crew and flying training base...
, Texas.
In January 1955 he was assigned as an air training officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy, then located at 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...
, Colorado. He attended B-47
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
transition training 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, from December 1957 to February 1958, and was then assigned as a B-47 pilot with the 529th Bombardment Squadron at Plattsburgh Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base
Plattsburgh Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base covering 3,447 acres in the extreme northeast corner of New York, 20 miles south of the Canadian border...
, New York. From June 1960 to August 1964, O'Malley served as an aide to General Hunter Harris, who was 8th Air Force commander at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and then vice commander in chief, Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
, Nebraska.
Following graduation with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College in June 1965, O'Malley served as a pilot with the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base
Beale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east of Marysville, California. Originally known as Camp Beale....
, California. While there he flew the first operational mission of the SR-71. In July 1969 he entered the Naval War College.
From July 1970 to April 1971, he was director of operations for the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base
Mountain Home Air Force Base
Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in southwestern Idaho, United States. The base is in Elmore County, 12 miles southwest of the city of Mountain Home, which is 40 miles southeast of Boise, via Interstate 84.The host unit at Mountain Home since 1972...
, Idaho, and flew RF-4Cs. O'Malley then left for Southeast Asia and served as vice commander and later commander of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 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. In September 1971 he was assigned as vice commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base
Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base
Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force base, the home of 2nd Air Division/23rd Wing Air Combat Command.The 231 Squadron "Hunter" is assigned to Udorn, equipped with the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet-A.-History:...
, Thailand. He flew 116 combat missions in F-4D's and RF-4Cs.
He commanded the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base from May 1972 to May 1973. He was then named commander of the 22nd Bombardment Wing, March Air Force Base, California, and later served as chief of staff for 15th Air Force, also located at March Air Force Base. He was then assigned as assistant deputy chief of staff for plans at SAC headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, from July 1974 to June 1975, when he was named deputy chief of staff for operations plans.
In January 1977 he moved to Washington, D.C., for duty as vice director for operations, Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. O'Malley served as assistant deputy chief of staff, operations, plans and readiness at U.S. Air Force headquarters, from May 1979 to August 1980, when he became deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. He was appointed vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force in June 1982 and in October 1983 was named commander in chief of the Pacific Air Forces, 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. He assumed command of 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...
in September 1984.
O'Malley was a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours. His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with "V" device and three oak leaf clusters, Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal Honor Class and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm.
O'Malley died on April 20, 1985 with his wife Diane when the CT-39 Sabreliner they were in experienced brake failure at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport.