Years of service 1918–19
1920–59 | Name Earle Partridge Rank General | |
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Born July 7, 1900
Winchendon, Massachusetts ( 1900-07-07 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars World War I
World War II
Korean War Awards Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star
Air Medal (4)
Belgian Croix de Guerre
Order of the Bath
French Croix de Guerre
French Legion of Honor
Order of Polonia Restituta
Korean Order of Military Merit Relations Wife - Katherine H Partridge Daughter - Patricia E Partridge
Daughter - Kay B Partridge Died September 7, 1990, Jupiter, Florida, United States Education United States Military Academy Commands held North American Aerospace Defense Command, Air Force Systems Command, Fifth Air Force | ||
Battles and wars World War II, Korean War Service/branch United States Air Force | ||
Earle Everard "Pat" Partridge (July 7, 1900 – September 7, 1990) was a 4-star general in the United States Air Force and a Command Pilot.
Partridge enlisted in the United States Army in July 1918 at Fort Slocum, New York, and was assigned to the 5th Engineer Training Regiment. He went to France in August 1918 to join the 79th Division, participating in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Partridge graduated from the United States Military Academy in the Class of 1924.
He received flight training at Brooks Field and Kelly Field, and was a stunt pilot in the 1927 silent film Wings.
He taught mathematics at West Point, then went to the Panama Canal Zone with the 6th Composite Group. He was adjutant and assistant operations officer of the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field, and commanding officer of the 94th Pursuit Squadron.
In 1943, Partridge became chief of staff of the Fifteenth Air Force, and was named deputy commander of the Eighth Air Force in 1944. That June, he became commander of the 3rd Bomb Division, and assisted in its reorganization and movement to Okinawa.
Partridge returned to Headquarters Army Air Forces in January 1946 as assistant chief of staff for operations. He went to Japan in October 1948 as commanding general of the Fifth Air Force, serving through the first year of the Korean War. On his return to the United States in June 1951, he commanded the newly formed Air Research and Development Command at Baltimore, Maryland.
In April 1954, he became commander of the Far East Air Forces at Tokyo, then was named commander in chief of the North American Air Defense Command and the Air Defense Command, at Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs.
He retired from active duty on July 31, 1959.
Partridge's awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, four Air Medals, World War I Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Korea Medal, Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm; Companion, British Order of the Bath; French Croix de Guerre with two Palms; Knight, French Legion of Honor; Commander's Cross with Star, Polish Order of Polonia Restituta, and the Korean Order of Military Merit.