Robert W . Bazley Robert Whitman Bazley ( December 5 , 1925 – December 16 , 2012 ) was a retired United States Air Force four - star general who served as Commander in Chief , Pacific Air Forces ( CINCPACAF ) , from 1984 to 1986 . Bazley was born in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania in 1925 . He graduated from Brentwood High School and received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949 . He is also a 1968 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces , Fort Lesley J . McNair , Washington , D . C . Bazley enlisted in September 1943 and entered active duty through the aviation cadet program in January 1944 . He received his navigator wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U . S . Army Air Forces in March 1945 . The end of World War II coincided with his completion of B - 29 combat crew training and Bazley was released from active duty in February 1946 . He then entered the University of Pittsburgh . In November 1951 General Bazley was recalled to active duty and served as an RB - 26 navigator with the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kimpo Air Base , South Korea . During the Korean War he flew 50 combat sorties . Bazley entered pilot training in August 1953 and in August 1954 received his wings . Following F - 84 fighter weapons training , he transferred to Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield , England , where he served as a pilot , flight commander and assistant operations officer with the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron . From May 1958 to June 1960 , Bazley was assigned to the 3502nd U . S . Air Force Recruiting Group with duty in Pittsburgh . He then transferred to the United States Air Force Academy . Upon his return to England in April 1965 , he served at Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath as operations officer for the 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron and later as chief , Operations Division , 48th Tactical Fighter Wing . He returned to the United States in 1967 and completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces . In August 1968 he commanded the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron , 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing , at Bien Hoa Air Base , Republic of Vietnam . He flew 257 combat missions in F - 100s . From September 1969 to June 1970 , Bazley served in the Directorate of Operations , Headquarters U . S . Air Force , Washington , D . C . He then joined the Directorate of Operations in the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Bazley served as commander of Randolph Air Force Base , Texas , from June 1972 to November 1972 . He then moved to Laredo Air Force Base , Texas , and assumed command of the 38th Flying Training Wing . From October 1973 to August 1975 , he commanded the 323rd Flying Training Wing at Mather Air Force Base , California . He was then assigned as inspector general for Headquarters U . S . Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base , Germany . He became the command ' s assistant for readiness in June 1976 . He took command of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center at Norton Air Force Base , California , in May 1978 . From July 1979 to June 1980 , he commanded Sheppard Technical Training Center , Sheppard Air Force Base , Texas . He then returned to England as commander of 3rd Air Force at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall . Bazley returned to Ramstein Air Base in July 1981 as vice commander in chief of U . S . Air Forces in Europe . Two years later he assumed duties as inspector general of the U . S . Air Force at Air Force headquarters . He was responsible to the secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff for U . S . Air Force inspection , safety , security , investigative , counterterrorism , counterintelligence and complaint programs . He assumed command of Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii in September 1984 , and retired from the Air Force on January 1 , 1987 . Bazley was a command pilot and navigator with more than 4 , 500 flying hours . His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal , Defense Superior Service Medal , Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster , Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster , Bronze Star , Meritorious Service Medal , Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster . Bazley was inducted into the Order of the Sword by the noncommissioned officer s of United States Air Forces in Europe in May 1983 when he served as vice commander of that organization . This award is given for conspicuous and significant contributions to the welfare and prestige of the noncommissioned officers corps . He died at his home in Chapel Hill , North Carolina in December 2012 .