Wilbur L . Creech General Wilbur Lyman Creech ( March 30 , 1927 – August 26 , 2003 ) commanded the United States Air Force ( USAF ) Tactical Air Command ( TAC ) from May 1 , 1978 to December 31 , 1984 with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base , Virginia . As of February 1984 , the now - inactive Major Command ( MAJCOM ) directed the activities of two numbered air forces , three centers and seven air divisions . More than 111 , 300 military and civilian personnel were assigned to 32 Tactical Air Command bases in the United States , Panama , Okinawa and Iceland . Tactical Air Command was the gaining organization for 58 , 300 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel in 149 major units throughout the United States . Biography . General Creech was born in Argyle , Missouri , on March 30 , 1927 . His first experience with the military was when he enlisted as a private in July 1944 after graduating from Emmetsburg ( Iowa ) High School . He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland , a Master ' s Degree in international relations from The George Washington University , and graduated from the National War College in 1966 . He received his wings and commission in September 1949 as a distinguished graduate of flying training school . His first operational assignment was with the 51st Fighter Wing at Naha , Okinawa . During the Korean War he flew with the 51st Wing from Kimpo Air Base and completed 103 combat missions over North Korea . He also served a combat tour of duty as a forward air controller with the U . S . Army ' s 27th Infantry Regiment , 25th Infantry Division . In July 1951 General Creech was assigned as a flight commander at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix , Arizona , where , for the next two and one - half years , he taught advanced gunnery to students from 14 nations . In November 1953 he joined the U . S . Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team , the Thunderbirds , and flew 125 official aerial demonstrations over the United States and Central America . In January 1956 he became commander and leader of the U . S . Air Forces in Europe Aerial Demonstration Team , the Skyblazers , based at Bitburg , Germany . By December 1959 he had flown 399 official aerial demonstrations with this team throughout Europe , North Africa and the Middle East . In June 1960 General Creech was named director of operations , U . S . Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base , Las Vegas , Nevada , where he served until February 1962 . He then was assigned us a special adviser to the commander of the Argentine air force in Buenos Aires . From August 1962 to August 1965 , he was executive and aide to the commander of Tactical Air Command , Langley Air Force Base . In August 1965 he entered the National War College at Fort Lesley J . McNair , Washington , D . C . Upon graduation in June 1966 , he was selected to be a staff assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense . General Creech transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in November 1968 as deputy commander for operations of the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing , Phu Cat Air Base . After six months with the wing , during which he flew 177 combat missions , he became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations , Headquarters Seventh Air Force in Saigon . In November 1969 General Creech was assigned to U . S . Air Forces in Europe and successively commanded two tactical fighter wings . After one year as commander of the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing at Zweibrücken , Germany , he became the commander of the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing at Madrid , Spain . From August 1971 until August 1974 , General Creech served as deputy chief of staff for operations and intelligence , Headquarters U . S . Air Forces in Europe at Wiesbaden and Ramstein , Germany . General Creech was assigned to Air Force Systems Command in September 1974 as vice commander of Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright - Patterson Air Force Base , Dayton , Ohio , and in October 1974 was appointed commander of the Electronic Systems Division , Boston , Massachusetts . The Electronic Systems Division manages the complex development and acquisition of command , control and communications equipment to meet the worldwide needs of the Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies . After two and one - half years as commander of Electronic Systems Division , General Creech was transferred to Washington , D . C . , where he served concurrently as the assistant vice chief of staff , assistant to the Chief of Staff for Readiness and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation matters and senior U . S . Air Force member , Military Staff Committee , United Nations . He assumed his present position on May 1 , 1978 . Awards and decorations . He was a command pilot , experienced in 40 different military fighter , cargo and reconnaissance aircraft . His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster , Silver Star , Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters , Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters , Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters , Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters , Army Commendation Medal , Republic of Vietnam Air Service Medal ( Honor Class ) , Spanish Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit with white ribbon and Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tong II Medal . He was promoted to General May 1 , 1978 , with same date of rank . He retired from the Air Force December 31 , 1984 , and died August 26 , 2003 . See also . Author , under pen name Bill Creech , of " The Five Pillars of TQM : How to Make Total Quality Management Work for You "