Francis H. Griswold

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Francis H. Griswold
Griswold fh1.jpg
Nickname(s)Butch
Born(1904-11-05)November 5, 1904
Erie, Pennsylvania
DiedApril 11, 1989(1989-04-11) (aged 84)
Laguna Hills, California[1]
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchSeal of the US Air Force.svg United States Air Force
Years of service1928–1964
RankUS-O9 insignia.svg Lieutenant General
Commands heldThird Air Force Third Air Force
National War College National War College
Strategic Air Command Vice CINC, SAC
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (2)
Air Medal

Francis Hopkinson Griswold (November 5, 1904 – April 11, 1989) was an American Air Force lieutenant general who was commandant of the National War College in Washington, D.C. and vice commander in chief, Strategic Air Command.

Early life[]

Griswold was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1904. He attended Columbia University in New York City and Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, before entering military service as an aviation cadet in September 1928. He completed flying training at Kelly Field, Texas, in October 1929.

He spent the next several years as a pilot performing normal squadron duties with various air units in Michigan, Illinois, Hawaii, California and Virginia.

World War II[]

Shortly after the U.S. entered World War II, he was named as chief of the Training Section, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C.

He was transferred in July 1943 to the Eighth Air Force in England where he served successively as chief of staff of the 8th Fighter Command, the , and the Eighth Air Force. He went to the Pacific in July 1945 as commanding general of the 301st Fighter Wing on Okinawa, and the following October returned to the United States.

Cold War[]

From December 1945 until July 1946 he was deputy assistant chief of the Air Staff for operations, Headquarters Army Air Forces. He then assumed command of the 20th Air Force on Guam until September 1948 when he returned to Headquarters U.S. Air force as assistant deputy chief of staff for materiel.

He was named Air Force staff member of the Munitions Board in December 1950, and in May 1952 was reassigned to the United Kingdom to command the U.S. Third Air Force.

He became vice commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in April 1954, where he remained until July 1, 1961, when he was named commandant, the National War College, Washington, D.C..

Retirement[]

He retired August 1, 1964.

Lieutenant General Griswold died of heart failure at Saddleback Community Hospital in Laguna Hills, California; he was 84 years old.[2]

Awards and decorations[]

COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png USAF Command Pilot wings
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Army Distinguished Service Medal (w/oak leaf cluster)
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Legion of Merit (w/oak leaf cluster)
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg American Campaign Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four campaign stars
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal
Bronze star
 National Defense Service Medal with service star
Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
Croix de guerre 1939–1945 stripe bronsepalme.svg French Croix de guerre with Palm
Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
POL Polonia Restituta Komandorski BAR.svg Order of Polonia Restituta

References[]

  1. ^ "Francis Griswold, 84, An Air Force General - New York Times". The New York Times. 1989-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
  2. ^ "Gen. 'Butch' Griswold; Pilot Led War College". Los Angeles Times. 1989-05-15. Retrieved 2018-11-12.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document: "[1]".

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