Horace M . Wade Horace Milton Wade ( March 12 , 1916 – June 14 , 2001 ) was a former General in the United States Air Force and a former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force . Biography . Early life . Wade was born in 1916 , in Magnolia , Arkansas . After completing high school in Wortham , Texas , he returned to Arkansas , and graduated from the Magnolia Agricultural and Mechanical Junior College in 1936 . His military career began in 1934 when he became a member of Company D , 153rd Infantry Regiment , Arkansas National Guard . He entered the Army Air Corps Flying School at Randolph Field in Texas in 1937 . Upon graduating and receiving his wings , in October 1938 , he was commissioned as a second lieutenant , Air Corps Reserve , U . S . Army . Early career . Upon completion of flying training , he was assigned to the 11th Bombardment Squadron , 7th Bombardment Group , Hamilton Field , California , and in December 1941 , was deployed with this unit to the Southwest Pacific . He also served in the China Burma India and the Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre s of operations , accumulating 36 combat missions in B - 17 Flying Fortress s and B - 24 Liberator s before returning to the United States in 1943 . After a short tour as commander of the 29th Bombardment Group , Gowen Field , Idaho , and after a few months as a tactical air inspector for the Second Air Force , he was transferred , in July 1944 , to the War Department , General Staff . In March 1946 he was assigned to Headquarters Air Transport Command as deputy chief of staff . In February 1948 he received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas . He then joined the Strategic Air Command in August 1949 and served with the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho , and the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana , before being named commander of the 301st Bombardment Wing at Barksdale in February 1951 . He completed the National War College in June 1955 and was assigned as director of personnel , Headquarters Strategic Air Command , Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska . In the summer of 1959 , he was designated the commander of the 4310th Air Division , Nouasseur Air Base , Morocco , and in October 1961 , was assigned as deputy commander , Eighth Air Force at Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts . In August 1962 he returned to The Pentagon to serve as the assistant deputy chief of staff , plans and programs , Headquarters United States Air Force . Later career . On Dec . 1 , 1964 , Wade was named commander of the Eighth Air Force at Westover Air Force Base , and was promoted to the grade of lieutenant general ; in August 1966 , he was again returned to Air Force headquarters , this time as deputy chief of staff for personnel . On Aug . 1 , 1968 he was designated as commander in chief , United States Air Forces in Europe , Wiesbaden , Germany , and concurrently as commander , Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force , Allied Command Europe , and was promoted to general . In February 1969 he was appointed chief of staff , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . Wade became Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force , on May 1 , 1972 . At some point the United States Air Force named an award after him . Over his career as a pilot , he maintained his proficiency in multijet aircraft and has more than 8 , 450 hours of flying time . Death . Wade died on June 14 , 2001 . Awards . Awards earned during his career :