Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders

    HomeAbout UsBiographiesDisplay      Brig. Gen. Donald Ward Saunders official photoEngage On
        
        Brig. Gen. Donald Ward Saunders official photoBRIGADIER GENERAL DONALD WARD SAUNDERSDonald Ward Saunders was born in Athens, New York, 28 March 1913. He graduated from Athens High School and attended Cortland College, Cortland, New York.
On 14 June 1938 he graduated from the United States Military Academy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Field Artillery.
In September 1938 he was assigned to Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas. Upon completing and graduating from flying school at Kelly Field, Texas on 25 August 1939 he was transferred to the United States Army Air Corps and assigned to Kelly Field for duty.
After serving as Base Adjutant and Stage Commander at Moffett Field, California in 1940 and 1941, he was assigned to Four-Engine Flying Training. He served as Director of Flying of the B-17 School, which was opened at Hobbs, New Mexico in October 1942.
In April 1943 he was assigned and assumed command of a B-17 Provisional Group at Blythe, California. After flying this group to England, he returned to Dalhart, Texas, to take command of the 333d Bomb Group. In January 1944 he left Dalhart and reported to the XXI Bomber Command, Salina, Kansas.
He was further assigned to the 498th Bombardment Group of the 73d Bombardment Wing and took command of the 874th Bombardment Squadron in March 1944. After training, he departed the United States for Saipan with the 73d Bombardment Wing in October 1944. During the Pacific Campaign he served as Deputy Squadron Commander and Deputy Group Commander; and in July 1945 assumed command of the 498th Bombardment Group. At the cessation of hostilities, he returned with the 498th Bombardment Group to MacDill Field, Florida.
He had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters; the Bronze Star; the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He is a Command Pilot and during World War II flew 25 combat missions totaling 350 combat hours in the Pacific Theater.
After attending the first Air Command and Staff School class at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 1946 and 1947, he was assigned to the faculty of that school. In 1950 he was assigned to Headquarters United States Air Force for duty with the Director of Operations. In 1953 he attended the Air War College. After graduation he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command for duty as Director of Operations of the 12th Air Division, March AFB, California.
He assumed command of the 303d Bomb Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona on 19 November 1954.
Assuming command of the 57th Air Division at Westover AFB, Massachusetts on 24 September 1956 in the rank of Colonel, he was promoted to Brigadier General on 25 October.
General Saunders was among 15 men killed in the crash of a KC-135A aircraft on June 27, 1958, near Westover AFB, Massachusetts during the crew’s attempt to break a transatlantic flight record. The aircraft crashed after striking power lines shortly after taking off from Westover AFB.
  Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil