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Bennie Luke Davis |
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Graduate, U.S. Military Academy, Class of 1950 Engagements: • Vietnam War (1960 - 1973) |
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Biography: | ||||
Bennie Luke Davis General, U.S. Air Force Bennie Luke Davis was born on 12 May 1928 in McAlester, OK. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. After graduation he attended pilot training at Vance AFB, OK, earning his pilot wings in August 1951. He then was assigned as a twin-engine pilot at James Connally AFB, TX. Davis completed B-29 Superfortress combat crew training in October 1953 and then reported to Okinawa as a B-29 Aircraft Commander with the 307th and later the 19th Bombardment Wings. He returned to the U.S. with the 19th Bombardment Wing in June 1954 and served as a B-47 Stratojet Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot at Pinecastle AFB, FL. In June 1956, he again moved with the 19th Bombardment Wing, this time to Homestead AFB, FL. After completing B-52 combat crew training in September 1961, Davis become a B-52H Instructor Pilot with the 93rd Bombardment Squadron at Kincheloe AFB, MI. In February 1964, he entered the Armed Forces Staff College. He graduated in June 1964 and was assigned to SAC headquarters at Offutt AFB, NE, as a Requirements Officer in the Aerospace Systems Branch, Plans Requirements Division. He transferred to Clark Air Base, Philippines, in October 1967 as a B-57 tactical bomber pilot with the 13th Bombardment Squadron. The squadron was later re-designated as Detachment 1, 8th Tactical Bombardment Squadron, and he became its Operations Officer. He flew more than 350 combat hours on 142 missions over Vietnam. In August 1968, Davis joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC, where he served in the Directorate of Operations as an Operations Officer and later as Chief of the Current Operations Branch, Strategic Operations Division. In August 1970, he was assigned as the Air Force member of the Chairman's Staff Group, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1969 he attended the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard School of Business. Davis transferred to Randolph AFB, TX, in June 1972 to serve as Vice Commander, U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Center, and Deputy Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Personnel for Headquarters U.S. Air Force. The Center was later re-designated the Manpower and Personnel Center. In June 1974, he became Commander of the U.S. Air Force Recruiting Service and Deputy Chief of Staff, Recruiting, for Air Training Command. In July 1975, Davis was assigned as Director, Personnel Plans, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Headquarters USAF, in Washington. He was named Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel (later Manpower and Personnel) in June 1977. On 1 April 1979, Davis was promoted to the four-star rank of General, and took Command of Air Training Command at Randolph AFB. He then served as Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Air Command (CINCSAC), from 1981-85. General Davis retired from the Air Force on 31 July 1985. During his Air Force service he became a Command Pilot with over 9,000 flying hours. While in the Air Force, he earned a Master of Science degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC in 1967; graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA, in 1964; and the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC, in 1967. Medals, Awards and Badges Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Death and Burial General Bennie Luke Davis died of natural causes on 23 September 2012, in Georgetown, TX. He is inurned at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. His wife, Patricia Ann Davis, preceded him in death on 5 June 2006 and they are inurned together at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. |
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Honoree ID: 702 | Created by: MHOH |