Winston P . Wilson Winston Peabody Wilson ( November 11 , 1911 – December 31 , 1996 ) was a United States Air Force Major General who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau . Early life . Winston Peabody Wilson was born in Arkadelphia , Arkansas on November 11 , 1911 . Wilson acquired the nickname " Wimpy " , a play on words using his name , when a coach hollered for " Win P . Wilson " to take the field . He enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard in 1929 and was an aircraft mechanic in the 154th Observation Squadron . He graduated from Hendrix College in 1934 . In 1936 he became qualified as a pilot after receiving instruction from Earl T . Ricks , and he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in 1940 , the same year he received his commercial pilot ' s license . World War II . During World War II Wilson initially served with the 154th Squadron at Eglin Field , flying anti - submarine patrols . In September 1942 , he was assigned to the staff at Headquarters , United States Army Air Forces in Washington , D . C . He was rated as a service pilot in May 1943 , and appointed Chief of the Tactical Reconnaissance Branch in July , 1943 , receiving promotion to Major . In 1944 he became commander of the 16th Photographic Squadron , responsible for photographic mapping and charting missions in South America , Alaska and the continental United States . In 1945 he was assigned to the Pacific as liaison officer to Far East Air Forces , and he was subsequently assigned as assistant air photo officer at Headquarters , Far East Air Forces in the Philippines , receiving promotion to Lieutenant Colonel . In 1946 he was appointed Chief of the Reconnaissance Unit in the Operations and Training staff section ( A - 3 ) , of Pacific Air Command , operating in both Tokyo and Manila . Post World War II . Wilson , now the commander of the Arkansas National Guard ' s reorganized 154th Fighter Squadron , played a role in the creation of the new United States Air Force , and was an advocate for two separate Reserve components , the United States Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard . Among the changes he instituted in an effort to improve readiness were a modified drill schedule , moving from four Wednesday nights per month to two Wednesday nights and two full Sundays , the precursor to the current one full weekend per month schedule . National Guard Bureau . In 1950 Ricks was appointed Director of the Air National Guard , and selected Wilson as his deputy . Wilson , now a Colonel , was responsible for the training , readiness , equipping and deployment of Air National Guard units during the Korean War . He served in this role until Ricks ' death , and was the acting Director during Ricks ' final illness . Before Ricks died he recommended Wilson as his replacement . Wilson was appointed Director of the Air National Guard in 1954 , and promoted to Brigadier General . In 1955 he was appointed Deputy Chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to Major General . He carried out this assignent while also serving as Director of the Air National Guard . From June to July , 1959 he served as acting Chief of the National Guard Bureau after the retirement of Edgar C . Erickson and before the appointment of Donald W . McGowan . During his tenure as Air Guard Director he oversaw the organization ' s diversification from a fighter - based force to one of fighters , bombers , observation , and transport units , as well as a modernization of its planes and facilities . Chief of the National Guard Bureau . In 1963 Wilson was appointed Chief of the National Guard Bureau , the first Air Force officer to be officially named to the position . ( Ricks had served as acting Director for four months . ) Long an advocate for integrating National Guard and Reserve units into operations with active duty ones , rather than using them as a strategic reserve , Wilson ' s view was validated during the Vietnam War , with Air Guard fighter squadrons serving successfully in Vietnam , especially following the Pueblo Incident and Tet Offensive , when called on to deploy with little or no advance notice . Wilson also continued efforts to integrate the National Guard , including the appointment of its first African - American general officer . In addition to its military preparations , Wilson also oversaw enhanced training and equipping efforts so that the National Guard could respond to civil disturbances , which happened with increasing frequency as the result of the civil rights and anti - Vietnam War movements of the 1960s . As NGB Chief during the Vietnam War , Wilson also made news when he advocated that Guard members take part in counter - demonstrations in response to opponents of the war , asking them to drive with their car headlights on during the day , fly the U . S . flag more frequently , and leave their porch lights on at night . Wilson flew in Vietnam on observing and fact finding missions , and received the Vietnam Service Medal . He was appointed to a second term in 1967 , and served until his 1971 retirement . Retirement and death . In retirement Wilson resided in Forrest City , Arkansas . He suffered a stroke and died at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis , Tennessee on December 31 , 1996 . He was buried at South Town Cemetery in Forrest City . Legacy . The National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Joseph T . Robinson , Arkansas hosts the annual Winston P . Wilson Rifle and Pistol Championship , a nationwide contest where teams and individuals from participating states compete for high scores in small arms target shooting .