H . M . Darmstandler Harry Max Darmstandler ( August 9 , 1922 – February 21 , 2012 ) was an American Air Force major general who was special assistant to the chief of staff for B - 1 Matters , Headquarters , United States Air Force , Washington , D . C . In this capacity , he coordinated Air Force activities related to the B - 1 bomber . Darmstandler was born in Indianapolis , Indiana , in 1922 , where he graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1940 . He received a bachelor of science degree in military science from the University of Omaha , in 1964 , and a master of science degree in international relations from The George Washington University , in 1965 . He entered the aviation cadet program in Santa Ana , California , in May 1942 and graduated at Luke Air Field , Arizona , as a pilot and second lieutenant in February 1943 . During World War II , Darmstandler served as an instructor pilot in the Air Training Command , and later as aircraft commander of a B - 24 crew assigned to the 456th Bombardment Group in Italy . He flew 21 combat missions and remained in Italy after V - E Day through July 1945 , flying gasoline and oil into Trieste . In September 1945 he separated from active duty , retaining a commission in the Army Air Corps Reserve . In November 1948 Darmstandler returned to active duty to participate in the Berlin airlift . Assigned to the 29th Troop Carrier Squadron , he completed nearly 200 missions before returning to the United States in July 1949 to join the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin Air Force Base , Fla . He then became a B - 17 " director pilot " for Operation GREENHOUSE nuclear tests conducted at Eniwetok Atoll in early 1951 . Following the test series , he joined the 61st Troop Carrier Group in Japan where he flew combat cargo missions in support of military operations in Korea . In November 1952 the 61st Group returned to the United States and transitioned into C - 124 Globemaster aircraft with Darmstandler as the group chief pilot . In February 1954 Darmstandler moved to Donaldson Air Force Base , South Carolina , where he served as operations and training inspector under the inspector general , Eighteenth Air Force . During the winter of 1955 - 1956 , he staged at Frobisher Bay , flying into ice air strips on frozen lakes in Northern Canada in support of the installation of the Defense Early Warning ( DEW ) Line . In the academic year of 1955 - 1956 , he attended Command and Staff School at the Naval War College , Newport , R . I . He then returned to the 61st Troop Carrier Group to command a rotational detachment of C - 124 aircraft at Rhein - Main Air Base , Germany . During this tour of duty , he led the air evacuation of American nationals from Tel Aviv at the outbreak of the Arab - Israeli conflict of 1956 , and participated in the airlift of the United Nations security forces from the Scandinavian countries to the Suez . In July 1957 Darmstandler was assigned as aide and flag pilot to the commandant , Armed Forces Staff College , Norfolk , Virginia . In September 1960 he joined the staff of the commander in chief , Pacific , for a three - year tour . He next attended the University of Omaha under Operation BOOTSTRAP , and in August 1964 entered the National War College , during which time he also obtained a master ' s degree at The George Washington University . In July 1965 Darmstandler was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , serving initially in the North American Division and later in the Current Operations Branch of the Pacific Division . During this period , he served on temporary duty in the Republic of Vietnam , visiting all of the major Air Force , Army , and Marine Corps units in - country while analyzing the system for close air support . In August 1968 Darmstandler was chosen to be a research fellow at the University of California , Los Angeles . In July 1969 he was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe as special assistant to the chief of staff and in June 1970 became executive to the chief of staff . In February 1972 he was assigned as commander , 12th Strategic Air Division , SAC , at Davis - Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona . Darmstandler was reassigned as the assistant deputy chief of staff for plans , Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , in March 1973 , and became the deputy chief of staff for plans in September 1973 . In this position , he directed the formulation and development of plans , policies , programs and requirements for SAC . He also served as the commander in chief , SAC , representative to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff for the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Darmstandler assumed the position as special assistant to the chief of staff for B - 1 Matters , U . S . Air Force , in July 1974 . His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Distinguished Flying Cross , Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters , Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster , Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon , and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon . He wears the Missileman Badge and is a command pilot with more than 7 , 000 flying hours . He was promoted to the grade of major general effective September 1 , 1973 , with date of rank February 1 , 1971 . He retired September 1 , 1975 . Darmstandler died in 2012 . He was 89 .