Died December 5, 1975 | Name Edward Haight Rank Colonel | |
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Battles/wars World War IWorld War II Service/branch United States Army Air Service, United States Army Air Forces, United States Air Force Unit 139th Aero Squadron, United States Army Air Service | ||
Commands held Randolph Air Force Base | ||
Colonel Edward Meeker Haight was a flying ace when he served as a lieutenant in World War I. He was credited with five aerial victories, all against German fighter planes.
Haight scored his victories in just over a month, from 28 September through 30 October 1918, while flying a Spad.
Postwar, Haight pursued a career in the U. S. flying service, although he interrupted his service time at some point for approximately six years. He flew as an airline pilot in Central America, and maintained his reserve commission. He was recalled to active duty for World War II.
During World War II, he rose to the rank of colonel and briefly commanded Randolph AFB in 1942. In 1950, he was culled from the officer's ranks and chose to enlist as a noncommissioned officer rather than leave the military; this allowed him to complete his 30 years for retirement. He retired on 3 May 1954 at Randolph AFB, after serving four years as a master sergeant in the School of Aviation Medicine.
His son 2nd Lt Edward Haight was Missing in action in 1944 during World War II.