Roger M. Ramey

Roger Maxwell Ramey
Born	(1905-09-09)September 9, 1905 Sulphur Springs, Texas
Died	March 4, 1963(1963-03-04) (aged 57) Torrance, California
Allegiance	United States
Years of service	1928–1957
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	38th Pursuit Squadron Eighth Air Force Fifth Air Force
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross[1] Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross

Roger Maxwell Ramey (9 September 1905 – 4 March 1963) was an American officer who reached the rank of Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force. He retired in January 1957 over heart problems and died six years later.

Early life and career[]

Ramey was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas. He attended North Texas Teachers College and aspired to practice medicine, but was persuaded to compete in the examination for a place in West Point by his captain in the National Guard. He was enrolled at West Point in 1924 and graduated as a second lieutenant in 1928.^[2]

After his graduation, Ramey enrolled in the Air Corps Primary Flying School and graduated from the Air Corps Advanced Flying School in September 1929.

Between the wars[]

He served with the 27th Pursuit Squadron in Michigan for a time and in 1932 was made commanding officer of the 38th Pursuit Squadron. Later he served as a flight instructor in Randolph Field, Texas.^[3]

World War II[]

In January 1942 during United States' involvement in World War II, Ramey became plans and training officer of the VII Bomber Command.^[3] The next month he was promoted to Colonel.^[2] In October 1942 he transferred to the Fifth Air Force, in which he served as commanding officer of 43rd Bomb Group and 314th Bomb Wing.^[3]

Postwar service[]

Operation Crossroads[]

(January–August 1946)
At Operation Crossroads, Nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll in 1946, Ramey was the director of the "Able" shot and commander of Task Force 1.5.^[2][3]

Commander of the Eighth Air Force[]

Ramey assumed command of the Eighth Air Force as a temporary Brigadier General in January 1947. He was also the commander of Carswell Air Force Base, then known as Fort Worth Army Airfield.^[3]

Roswell UFO incident[]

He was responsible for reversing the stance on the nature of the crashed craft of the Roswell UFO incident later that year.^[4] He was famously photographed with a telex in his hand on 8 July 1947 that Ufologists believe may confirm a cover-up. The photograph has been subject to much analyzing with little conclusive results.^[5]

Commander of the Fifth Air Force[]

In May 1954 Ramey assumed command of the Fifth Air Force in Korea.

Retirement[]

He retired on 31 January 1957 over heart problems,^[2] having been promoted to temporary Lieutenant General in June 1954.^[3] He died on 4 March 1963 in Torrance, California.^[2]

Summary of service[]

Dates of rank[]

^[3][6]

	Sergeant, Texas Army National Guard - Prior to 1924
	Second Lieutenant, Cavalry: - Permanent Establishment: June 9, 1928
	First Lieutenant, Air Corps: - Permanent Establishment: September 1, 1934
	Captain, Air Corps: —Permanent Establishment: June 9, 1938
	Major, Air Corps: —Temporary: January 31, 1941 —Permanent Establishment: June 9, 1945
	Lieutenant Colonel, Air Corps: —Temporary: January 5, 1942
	Colonel, Air Corps: —Temporary: March 1, 1942 —Permanent Establishment: April 2, 1948
	Brigadier General: —Temporary: July 1, 1943 —Permanent Establishment: June 11, 1948;
	Major General: —Temporary: October 29, 1947 —Permanent Establishment: July 21, 1952
	Lieutenant General: —Temporary: June 1954

References[]