John Charles Meyer
General, U.S. Air Force

John Charles Meyer was born on 3 April 1919 in Brooklyn, NY, and attended schools in New York. In 1939 he left Dartmouth to become an Aviation Cadet. (After the war he graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Geography.)

Military Career

Meyer wanted to fly so he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in November 1939. In July 1940, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings. Meyer was assigned to flight instructor duty at Randolph Field, TX, and Gunter Field, AL. He was then transferred to the 33rd Pursuit Squadron of the 8th Pursuit Group at Mitchel Field, NY, to fly the P-40. During the tense days before the U.S. entered World War II, the Group was sent to Iceland, flying convoy patrol missions.

In September 1942, he received orders to report to the newly-formed 352nd Fighter Group at Westover, MA, where he, as a First Lieutenant, assumed Command of the 34th Pursuit Squadron that had recently returned from the Philippines (in name only) and was in need of new equipment and personnel. By the end of December, Meyer had received most of the ground personnel and had twenty-six pilots assigned, but had no aircraft. In January, the Squadron moved to New Haven, CT, and began picking up the first P-47 Thunderbolt fighters that it would take to combat. The 34th was re-designated as the 487th Fighter Squadron in May 1943, prior to receiving orders to deploy to England.

Deployment to Europe

Captain Meyer took the 487th Fighter Squadron to its new base at RAF Bodney in East Anglia and into combat during World War II. He scored its first victory in November while flying a P-47. By then he had been promoted to Major and was leading the group in aerial victories. He continued to score against German fighters and remain a leading ace after the 352nd transitioned to the P-51 Mustang and adopted their famous "Blue Noses." By November 1944, he was Deputy Commander of the 352nd Fighter Group and the fourth-highest scoring American ace in Europe with 24 confirmed air-to-air victories and 13 aircraft destroyed on the ground.

The Battle of Y-29

In December, Lieutenant Colonel Meyer deployed with the 352nd to a forward base in Belgium that was designated "Y-29." His foresight in having the 487th Squadron's aircraft pre-flighted and ready for take off averted a major disaster on 1 January. That day, the field was attacked by fighters of Jagdgeschwader 11 in the massive aerial assault known as Operation Bodenplatte. Meyer led the takeoff, under fire, and scored against a strafing Fw-190 before his landing gear had even retracted. He earned a Distinguished Service Cross that day.

Later, a vehicle accident left him with a severe leg injury that ended his combat flying with the 352nd. He had flown 200 combat missions totaling 462 combat flying hours and scoring 24 aerial victories with another 13 credited to ground strafing. He also scored 3 victories in P-47 Thunderbolts.

Postwar Assignments

In 1948, Meyer was selected as the Secretary of the Air Force's principal point of contact with the U.S. House of Representatives. Meyer returned to a tactical flying unit in August 1950 when he assumed Command of the 4th Fighter Wing at New Castle, DE. He took the F-86 Sabrejet Wing to Korea where it flew in the First United Nations Counteroffensive and Chinese Communist Forces Spring Offensive campaigns. He destroyed two communist MiG-15 aircraft, bringing his total of enemy aircraft destroyed (air and ground) to 39½.

After a tour of duty as Director of Operations for Air Defense Command and Continental Air Defense Command, Meyer graduated from the Air War College at Maxwell AFB, AL, in June 1956, and was retained as an instructor at the college. He was then assigned to Strategic Air Command where he commanded two air divisions in the Northeast U.S. In July 1962, he moved to the headquarters of SAC at Offutt AFB, as the Deputy Director of Plans; he also served as the Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Air Command's representative to the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff.

In November 1963, Meyer became the Commander of the Tactical Air Command's Twelfth Air Force with headquarters at Waco, TX. Twelfth Air Force provided tactical air units for joint logistic and close air support training with Army ground units stationed in the western half of the U.S.

He was assigned to the Organization of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff in February 1966, where he served first as Deputy Director and then Vice Director of the Joint Staff. In May 1967, Lieutenant General Meyere became the Director of Operations on the Joint Staff.

On 31 July 1969, Meyer was promoted to the four-star rank of General and assumed the duties of Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force on 1 August. He served as Vice Chief of Staff through April 1972. On 1 May 1972, he became the seventh Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command and the Director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. As SAC Commander from 1972-74, he directed Operation Linebacker II, the 'Christmas Bombing' of North Vietnam.

General Meyer's military career included a broad range of Air Force and joint assignments. He held operational jobs in air defense interceptors, tactical fighters and strategic bombers. He had also been a key member of the Joint Staff, the Headquarters U.S. Air Force staff, and the Strategic Air Command staff. He had been called upon to command major tactical and strategic units and retired as Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Command.

General Meyer retired from the Air Force on 1 July 1974.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Distinguished Service Cross with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with Silver and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal (15 Awards)
Army Commendation Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium)
United Nations Service Medal
Command Pilot Badge
Master Missile Maintenance Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st of 3 Awards)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) John Charles Meyer (ASN: 0-396294/4496A), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-15 Fighter Airplane in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 8 May 1944, during an air mission over Germany. On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Meyer led a flight of eight fighters in an attack against greatly superior numbers of enemy fighters trying to intercept a friendly bomber formation. The enemy flight was dispersed. During the engagement Lieutenant Colonel Meyer became separated from his flight except for one wingman and lost considerable altitude. While regaining altitude he observed another flight of fifteen more enemy fighters flying toward the bombers. Accompanied only by his wingman, he unhesitatingly attacked the formation with utter disregard of the odds against him, destroyed two enemy fighters and broke up the formation. Before setting course for home Lieutenant Colonel Meyer attacked and destroyed another enemy fighter. The courage and determination to destroy the enemy displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Meyer upon this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 34 (July 13, 1945)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd of 3 Awards)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) John Charles Meyer (ASN: 0-396294/4496A), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352d Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 11 September 1944. On this date, Lieutenant Colonel Meyer was leading his squadron of P-51 fighters and was proceeding to rendezvous with a task force of heavy bombers, when he observed approximately thirty hostile aircraft forming up near the bomber track. He promptly led his squadron in an attack on the enemy formation and succeeded in scattering it into ones and twos. With the enemy separated, his squadron proceeded to engage them with great tenacity. Lieutenant Colonel Meyer sent one enemy plane crashing to the ground and found himself separated entirely from his squadron. At this time he observed about fifteen enemy aircraft preparing to engage the bombers. Without regard to the superior enemy numbers, he unhesitatingly attacked the enemy formation without support of any kind, and destroyed three of them. The formation was dispersed and any possible attack on the bombers frustrated. The outstanding heroism and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Meyer on this occasion are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 4 (January 8, 1945)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (3rd of 3 Awards)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) John Charles Meyer (ASN: 0-396294/4496A), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane and as Deputy Commander, 352d Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 1 January 1945. On this date, to save the airfield and ground personnel from extensive damage by a surprise enemy strafing attack, Colonel Meyer unhesitatingly led his squadron off the field in the face of an attacking force of approximately fifty hostile fighters, and engaged the enemy as they initiated their first strafing run. Despite the enemy's great tactical advantage in numbers and position, and although his own aircraft was burdened with loaded wing tanks and its maneuverability greatly reduced, Colonel Meyer viciously engaged the enemy formation, personally destroying two of their aircraft. His valiant action in the face of extreme danger unquestionably saved the airfield from great damage. The extraordinary heroism and complete disregard for his personal safety displayed by Colonel Meyer on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 34 (April 10, 1945)

Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. General John Charles Meyer was one of them; he was credited with 24 aerial victories. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Honors

In March 1973 he received the Frank Hawks Memorial Award for his many contributions to aviation.

Death and Burial

General John Charles Meyer died of a heart attack on 2 December 1975. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Arlington County, VA, in Section 30, Lot 323-B-LH.