Samuel E . Anderson General Samuel Egbert Anderson ( January 6 , 1906 – September 12 , 1982 ) was a United States Air Force four - star general who served as commander of the Air Material Command . He was born in Greensboro , North Carolina , in 1906 . He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York , and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery upon graduation on June 9 , 1928 . Assigned immediately to the Air Corps Primary Flying School , Brooks Field , Texas , Lieutenant Anderson completed the course a year later . He then proceeded to Kelly Field , Texas , to attend the Observation Course at the Air Corps Advanced Flying School . After graduating on October 15 , 1929 , he joined the 5th Observation Squadron at Mitchel Field , Long Island , New York . On November 1 , 1929 , he transferred to the Air Corps . From September 1932 to February 1939 , Anderson saw service at Chanute Field , Rantoul , Illinois , acted as flying instructor and performed various duties at Kelly Field , Texas . Ordered to Wheeler Field , Schofield Barracks , Hawaii , in March 1939 , he became commanding officer of the Sixth Pursuit Squadron . In November 1940 he was designed Wing S - 3 , plans and training officer , 18th Composite Wing . Returning to Langley Field , Virginia in May 1941 , he served in various capacities . In August 1941 , Anderson was brought into the Air War Plans Division where he helped author AWPD - 1 , the American air war plan which greatly contributed to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany . In October 1941 Anderson transferred to the Office of the Assistant Chief Air Staff , Headquarters Air Force , Washington D . C . Anderson ' s next assignment was with the Operations Division , War Department General Staff , Washington , D . C . where he served from March 1942 until May 1943 . During this period , he saw combat in the Pacific Theater , and in June 1942 was awarded the Silver Star " for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby in Salamaua , New Guinea . " Transferring to the European Theater of Operations in May 1943 as administrative inspector of the Third Bombardment Wing ( Medium ) , he assumed command of the organization July 12 . Two months later , he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross " for extraordinary achievement while leading his Medium Bombardment Wing on two combat missions over enemy - occupied Europe on 16 July and 2 August 1943 . " In October 1943 , General Anderson was designated commanding general of the Ninth Bomber Command ( Medium ) of the Ninth Air Force . During his European Theater tour of duty , General Anderson headed various groups and commanded the Ninth Bomber Command ( Medium ) . During his time as commander , 10 of the 11 groups in his command were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation . Returning to the United States in May 1945 , General Anderson became chief of staff , Continental Air Force , Bolling Field , Washington , D . C . In June 1945 , he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for unusual ability and conspicuous technical proficiency in activating , developing , training and directing the operations of the Ninth Bombardment Division ( Medium ) during the period of July 1943 to December 1944 while serving as commanding general . In February 1946 , he became a member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee , Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , Washington , D . C . In February 1948 , he was appointed director of plans and operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at U . S . Air Force Headquarters and served in that capacity until August 1950 . From August 1950 to May 1953 , he served as commanding general of the Eighth Air Force with Headquarters at Carswell Air Force Base , Texas . On May 31 , 1953 he relieved Lieutenant General Glenn O . Barcus as commanding general of the Fifth Air Force in Korea . Upon assuming command of the Fifth Air Force , he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general . In May 1954 he was assigned as director , Weapons Systems Evaluation Group ( Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense - Research and Development ) . He held this position until his assignment as commander of Air Research and Development Command August 1 , 1957 . He was promoted to his four - star rank on March 10 , 1959 and named on the same day as commander of the Air Material Command , Wright - Patterson Air Force Base , Ohio , remaining in this capacity upon the redesignation of AMC to the Air Force Logistics Command on April 1 , 1961 . Anderson retired from the Air Force on August 1 , 1963 , and died on September 12 , 1982 . He was buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery .