William Emanuel Eubank, Jr.
Major General, U.S. Air Force

William Emanuel Eubank, Jr. was born on 2 August 1912 in Welch, WV. He spent his early years in Bluefield, WV, where he graduated from Beaver High School in 1930. He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, VA, where he majored in Mining Engineering.

His military career began in February 1936 when he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flying cadet at Randolph and Kelly Fields, San Antonio, TX. He graduated from Advanced Flying School and was assigned to Barksdale Field, LA, where he served with the 3rd Attack Group and the 27th Bomb Group. In October 1940, he was transferred to Lawson Field at Columbus, GA, and to Hunter Field in Savannah, GA, in May 1941.

In November 1941, as commander of the 91st Bomb Squadron, Eubank left for the Philippines. He was stationed at Fort McKinley in Manila at the outbreak of World War II. Shortly after World War II was declared, he moved with his squadron to Bataan Peninsula where it served as a provisional infantry company. He was moved to Corregidor and evacuated by U.S. Navy submarine to Java in February 1942. Upon the fall of Java he flew to India as part of General Brereton's staff to form the Tenth Air Force. Eubank served as Assistant Operations Officer, Tenth Air Force, from March 1942 until November 1943, when he returned to the U.S. From December 1943 to March 1945, he served with Headquarters U.S. Air Force as Operations Staff Officer. In March, he was assigned to the Air Force School of Applied Tactics in Orlando, FL, as an Instructor and finally, as School Secretary.

In 1947 he attended Armed Forces Staff College.

Eubank's assignment to the Strategic Air Command began in February 1948, when he was named Commander of the 43rd Bomb Group, Tucson, AZ. In August 1948, he assumed command of the 2nd Bomb Group and commanded this unit during its temporary duty in England and move to Chatham Air Force Base. In June 1950, he was assigned as Executive Officer, Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, and in June 1951, was appointed Chief, Operations Plans Division.

In July 1953, he was appointed Commander, 93rd Bomb Wing, Castle Chatham AFB, CA. In June 1954, the 93rd Bomb Wing, commanded by Eubank, began conversion to B-47 medium bombers. This conversion was effected in record time and won for the Wing the personal commendation of General Curtis E. LeMay, then Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Air Command.

In June 1955, still under the command of Eubank, the 93rd Bomb Wing was the first SAC installation to receive the B-52 Stratofortess heavy bomber. In 1957, while still under Eubank's command, the 93rd participated in "Operation Jet Stream," the first around-the-world jet flight. This flight resulted in the 93rd receiving the MacKay Trophy, the coveted Air Force award presented annually to the individual organization that makes the "most meritorious flight of the year."
In April 1958, Eubank commanded a 93rd KC-135 flight that established two new world records -- a non-stop speed record from Tokyo to Washington, in 13 hours and 47 minutes, and an unrefueled jet distance record of 10,288 miles from Tokyo to the Azores. Eubank became known as "Mr. B-52."

Upon his reassignment from Castle Chatham AFB, to Nouasseur Air Base, Morocco, in July 1958, where he assumed Command of the 4310th Air Division, Eubank was honored by the citizens of the City of Merced and the State of California. Goodwin J. Knight, Governor of California, proclaimed 28 June 1958, "General Eubank Day."

As 4310th Air Division Commander, under SAC's Sixteenth Air Force at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, Eubank had operational control of Reflex Forces at Nouasseur, Ben Guerir and Sidi Slimane air bases in Morocco.

Eubank was appointed as Deputy Commander of the Second Air Force on 15 August 1959. He retired from the Air Force as a Major General on 1 September 1965

A rated Command Pilot, Major General Eubank logged more than 4,500 flying hours, 60 of them in combat.

Medals and Awards

Legion of Merit
Air Medal (2 Awards)
Air Force Longevity Service Award (5 Awards)
Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal
Philippine Defense Ribbon
American Defense Service Medal
American Theater Ribbon
World War II Victory Medal
Philippine Campaign Medal with Battle Star
East Indies Campaign Medal with Battle Star

Badges

Command Pilot Badge
Unusual Experiences

Eubank was a survivor of Bataan and Corregidor.

Death and Burial

Major General William Emanuel Eubank, Jr. died on 3 September 2010 in Shreveport, LA. He is buried at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Keithville, LA.