William G . Moore Jr . William Grover Moore Jr . ( May 18 , 1920 – March 18 , 2012 ) was a General in the United States Air Force and the former commander - in - chief of Military Airlift Command . Moore is a combat veteran with 100 missions flown during World War II and the Korean War , and more than 140 missions in the Vietnam War . Biography . World War II . Moore was born in Waco , Texas in 1920 , and began his military career in 1940 by enlisting in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet . He graduated in May 1941 with a commission as a second lieutenant . During World War II , Moore commanded the 777th Bombardment Squadron , 464th Bombardment Group , Fifteenth Air Force , in Italy , logging 35 combat missions in B - 24 Liberator s . After World War II , he served as commandant of students at the Army Air Forces Aircraft Observer and Bombardier School at Mather Field , California . Korean War . During the Korean War , he commanded the 3rd Bombardment Group based at Kunsan Air Base , from where he led 65 combat missions in B - 26 Marauder medium bombers . From January 1953 to August 1956 , he served at Headquarters United States Air Force , Washington D . C . , in the Directorate of Operations , and from August 1957 to 1961 he was assigned to Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe , where he served as assistant deputy chief of staff , operations . He entered the National War College , Washington D . C . , in August 1961 . In August 1962 Moore began his airlift career as commander of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing , Sewart Air Force Base , Tennessee . During this time he also completed airborne training at Fort Benning , Georgia . In September 1963 he became commander of the 839th Air Division . While at Sewart , he directed Project Close Look , the springboard for today ' s tactical airlift tactics and procedures , and served as airlift commander on several large - scale exercises , including the Big Lift deployment to Europe . Vietnam War . From March 1965 until October 1966 , Moore was the deputy director of operations , J - 3 , United States Strike Command at MacDill Air Force Base , Florida , where he commanded the test airlift exercise Rapid Strike and was instrumental in much of the airlift planning for joint operations . In November 1966 , was assigned in Vietnam to organize the airlift effort in support of the Vietnam War . He reactivated and commanded the 834th Air Division at Tan Son Nhut Air Base , with responsibility for all tactical airlift in Vietnam . In December 1967 he assumed duties as director of operational requirements and development plans , deputy chief of staff , research and development , Headquarters United States Air Force . In February 1970 he became commander of the Twenty - Second Air Force ( Military Airlift Command ) at Travis Air Force Base , California . There he had prime responsibility for the extensive strategic airlift flown from the continental United States to Southeast Asia . During this time , he also flew more than 900 hours in the C - 141 Starlifter . While he was Twenty - Second Air Force commander , the world ' s largest aircraft , the C - 5 Galaxy , entered the Military Airlift Command inventory and a C - 5 squadron was activated at Travis . In September 1972 Moore assumed command of the Thirteenth Air Force at Clark Air Base in the Philippines , known as the Jungle Air Force . He was responsible for United States Air Force units in Taiwan , Thailand and the Republic of the Philippines . C - 130 Hercules s under his command were the first aircraft into Hanoi to prepare for returning prisoners of war , and he commanded the homecoming operation at Clark Air Base under the direction of the commander in chief , Pacific Command . General Moore was assigned as chief of staff , Pacific Command , in October 1973 . He participated in the planning and execution of numerous missions : complex airlift efforts for resupply of Cambodia ; evacuation of Phnom Penh ( Operation Eagle Pull ) and Saigon ( Operation Frequent Wind ) ; Operation Babylift ; Operation New Life ; and the Mayaguez operation . Later career . He became assistant Vice Chief of Staff United States Air Force , with the additional duty of senior Air Force member , Military Staff Committee , United Nations , in October 1976 . The Senate confirmed his presidential nomination to the grade of general and he assumed his present duty on April 1 , 1977 . Retirement . After he retired , he worked for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority , eventually becoming president where he directed the planning , development , financing and operation of the Nashville International Airport , Smyrna Airport , John C . Tune General Aviation Airport , and the Springfield Airport . Under Moore ' s leadership , the authority greatly expanded the Nashville Airport . He and his wife also lived in Franklin , Tennessee . Moore was charitably active in his later life and was rewarded with the 1990 Fred Russell Distinguished American Award , 1990 Barry Dean Fulton Award from United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee ; 1993 Outstanding Nashvillian of the Year by Kiwanis Nashville ; and 1996 Citizen of the Year by Easter Seals Tennessee . Moore died in Huntsville , Alabama on March 18 , 2012 of natural causes . A graveside service with full military honors will take place at the United States Air Force Academy on April 2 , 2012 . Awards . Awards earned during his career :