Winston P Wilson

Early life

Winston Peabody Wilson was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on November 11, 1911. Wilson was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and acquired the nickname "Wimpy", a play on words using his name, when the football coach at Little Rock High School hollered for "Win P. Wilson" to take the field. He enlisted in the Arkansas National Guard in 1929 and was an aircraft mechanic in the 154th Observation Squadron.

He graduated from Hendrix College in 1934. In 1936 he became qualified as a pilot after receiving instruction from Earl T. Ricks, and he received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1940, the same year he received his commercial pilot's license.

World War II

During World War II Wilson initially served with the 154th Squadron at Eglin Field, flying anti-submarine patrols.

In September 1942, he was assigned to the staff at Headquarters, United States Army Air Forces in Washington, D.C. He was rated as a service pilot in May 1943, and appointed Chief of the Tactical Reconnaissance Branch in July, 1943, receiving promotion to major.

In 1944 he became commander of the 16th Photographic Squadron, responsible for photographic mapping and charting missions in South America, Alaska and the continental United States.

In 1945 he was assigned to the Pacific as liaison officer to Far East Air Forces, and he was subsequently assigned as assistant air photo officer at Headquarters, Far East Air Forces in the Philippines, receiving promotion to lieutenant colonel. In 1946 he was appointed chief of the reconnaissance unit in the Operations and Training staff section (A-3), of Pacific Air Command, operating in both Tokyo and Manila.

Post World War II

Wilson, now the commander of the Arkansas National Guard's reorganized 154th Fighter Squadron, played a role in the creation of the new United States Air Force, and was an advocate for two separate Reserve components, the United States Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard. Among the changes he instituted in an effort to improve readiness were a modified drill schedule, moving from four Wednesday nights per month to two Wednesday nights and two full Sundays, the precursor to the current one full weekend per month schedule.

National Guard Bureau

In 1950 Ricks was appointed director of the Air National Guard, and selected Wilson as his deputy. Wilson, now a colonel, was responsible for the training, readiness, equipping and deployment of Air National Guard units during the Korean War. He served in this role until Ricks' death, and was the acting director during Ricks' final illness.

Before Ricks died he recommended Wilson as his replacement. Wilson was appointed director of the Air National Guard in 1954, and promoted to brigadier general. In 1955 he was appointed deputy chief of the National Guard Bureau and promoted to major general. He carried out this assignment while also serving as director of the Air National Guard.

From June to July, 1959 he served as acting chief of the National Guard Bureau after the retirement of Edgar C. Erickson and before the appointment of Donald W. McGowan.

During his tenure as Air Guard Director, he oversaw the organization's diversification from a fighter-based force to one of fighters, bombers, observation, and transport units, as well as a modernization of its planes and facilities.

Chief of the National Guard Bureau

In 1963 Wilson was appointed chief of the National Guard Bureau, the first Air Force officer to be officially named to the position. (Ricks had served as acting Chief for four months.) Long an advocate for integrating National Guard and Reserve units into operations with active duty ones, rather than using them as a strategic reserve, Wilson's view was validated during the Vietnam War, with Air Guard fighter squadrons serving successfully in Vietnam, especially following the Pueblo Incident and Tet Offensive, when called on to deploy with little or no advance notice.

Wilson also continued efforts to racially integrate the National Guard, including the appointment of its first African-American general officer.

In addition to its military preparations, Wilson also oversaw enhanced training and equipping efforts so that the National Guard could respond to civil disturbances, which happened with increasing frequency as the result of the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s.

As NGB Chief during the Vietnam War, Wilson also made news when he advocated that Guard members take part in counter-demonstrations in response to opponents of the war, asking them to drive with their car headlights on during the day, fly the U.S. flag more frequently, and leave their porch lights on at night.

Wilson flew in Vietnam on observing and fact finding missions, and received the Vietnam Service Medal. He was appointed to a second term in 1967, and served until his 1971 retirement.

Retirement and death

In retirement Wilson resided in Forrest City, Arkansas. He suffered a stroke and died at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on December 31, 1996. He was buried at South Town Cemetery in Forrest City.

Legacy

The National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas hosts the annual Winston P. Wilson Rifle and Pistol Championship, a nationwide contest where teams and individuals from participating states compete for high scores in small arms target shooting.

Major awards and decorations