William J . Evans William J . Evans ( March 4 , 1924 – December 12 , 2000 ) is a former General in the United States Air Force and the former commander of Allied Air Forces Central Europe . Biography . Early life . Evans was born in Norwich , Connecticut , in 1924 . He graduated from St . Mary Parochial School and in 1942 from Norwich Free Academy . He was offered a scholarship to Yale University and entered that summer . Later that year he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York , which he entered in July 1943 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and received a bachelor of science degree in military engineering in June 1946 . He next entered fighter transition training at Williams Field and gunnery school at Ajo , Arizona . His first tactical assignment was with the 20th Fighter Group at Shaw Field , South Carolina in November 1946 . In June 1948 he was transferred to the 475th Tactical Fighter Group at Itazuke Air Base , Japan . At the start of the Korean War in June 1950 , he flew P - 51 Mustang aircraft with the 35th Fighter - Interceptor Group from Tsuiki Air Field , and Taegu Air Base . Later that year he was transferred to Headquarters Fifth Air Force at Taegu , where he continued to fly intelligence missions for the headquarters . Before returning to the United States in 1951 he had completed approximately 130 combat missions in the P - 51 , P - 80 Shooting Star , T - 6 Texan and L - 5 Sentinel aircraft . From September 1951 to March 1952 , he was assigned to the Air Research and Development Command , Baltimore , Maryland . In April 1952 he was transferred to the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base , California , where he commanded the 434th Fighter - Bomber Squadron , equipped with F - 51 Mustang and later F - 86 Sabre aircraft . In April 1954 he returned to the Far East as executive officer to the commander , Far East Air Forces . In July 1955 he was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command , and in July 1956 he returned to George Air Force Base to command the 436th Fighter - Day Squadron , equipped with F - 100 Super Sabre aircraft . In 1958 he became director of operations for the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing and was responsible for the conversion of the wing to F - 104 Starfighter aircraft . In August 1959 , he entered the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks , Pennsylvania . , and after graduation in June 1960 was assigned to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk , Virginia , where he served on the faculty until June 1964 . General Evans next was transferred to Wheelus Air Base , Libya , and served as deputy for operations and later as vice commander of the 7272nd Flying Training Wing , the weapons training center for the United States Air Forces in Europe . He volunteered for Southeast Asia duty in 1966 and was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in May 1967 as vice commander , and later was commander of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base . Before returning to the United States in May 1968 , he completed 278 combat missions in the F - 100 Super Sabre aircraft . In June 1968 Evans was assigned as assistant deputy director for concepts and operational readiness , Defense Communications Planning Group , Washington , D . C . , and in June 1969 he assumed duties as the deputy director . In February 1970 General Evans was assigned to Headquarters United States Air Force , Washington D . C . , as special assistant for sensor exploitation , a newly created office . He was transferred in April 1971 to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff , Research and Development , as director of operational requirements and development plans , and in September 1971 he become director of development and acquisitions . In April 1972 Evans became assistant deputy chief of staff , research and development , and in August 1973 he was appointed deputy chief of staff , research and development . General Evans became commander of the Air Force Systems Command , Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland , in August 1975 . He assumed his present duties as commander , Allied Air Forces Central Europe and commander in chief , United States Air Forces in Europe on July 29 , 1977 . He is a command pilot with more than 6 , 200 flying hours to his credit , the majority of which are in fighter aircraft , including the P - 51 Mustang , P - 82 Twin Mustang , P - 80 Shooting Star , F - 84 Thunderjet , F - 86 Sabre , F - 100 Super Sabre , F - 102 Delta Dagger , F - 104 Starfighter , F - 4 Phantom , F - 5 Freedom Fighter , F - 111 Aardvark , A - 7 Corsair II , F - 14 Tomcat , and F - 15 Eagle , CF - 100 Canuck , Harrier Jump Jet , de Havilland Vampire , Gloster Meteor , Dassault Mirage F1 , Saab 37 Viggen . He has also flown the B - 1 Lancer , the McDonnell Douglas DC - 10 , the T - 43 Bobcat , the YC - 14 and the YC - 15 . He was promoted to the grade of general Sept . 1 , 1975 , with date of rank Aug . 30 , 1975 . Awards . Awards earned during his career :