Earl T. O'Loughlin

General, U.S. Air Force

Earl T. O'Loughlin was born on 2 August 1930 in Bay City, MI. He graduated from high school in East Tawas, MI, in 1948.

His military service began as an enlisted airman in February 1951 and he graduated from Bay City Junior College later that year. He became an aviation cadet and upon graduation from pilot training in June 1952 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

He completed B-29 Superfortress combat crew training at Randolph AFB, TX, and Forbes AFB, KS, in January 1953. O'Loughlin was then assigned to the 98th Bombardment Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. From there, he flew 29 combat missions and 224 combat hours in B-29s over North Korea.

After returning to the U.S. in August 1953, he was assigned to the 26th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Lockbourne AFB, OH, where he qualified in RB-47E Thunderjets. From 1953 to 1963, he served at Lockbourne as an Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, Standardization Evaluator and Squadron Operations Officer for RB-47Es and B-47s.

Following graduation from the Air Command and Staff College in June 1964, he served as a B-52 Stratofortress Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot with the 379th Bombardment Wing at Wurtsmith AFB, MI. From 1965-68, he was Chief of the Programs and Scheduling Branch for the 379th. In January 1968, O'Loughlin was assigned to Operation Arc Light as an Air Operations Officer with the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Saigon, J-3, Republic of Vietnam, and in January 1969, he returned to Wurtsmith as Commander of the 379th Organizational Maintenance Squadron. From January 1970 to November 1971, he was Assistant Deputy Commander for Maintenance and then Deputy Commander for Maintenance with the 379th Bombardment Wing.

From November 1971 to August 1972, O'Loughlin was assigned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, NE, as Chief of the Maintenance Management Division. He then entered the Army War College and after graduation in June 1973, he became Vice Commander of the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville AFB, AR. Later he was Commander of the KC-135-equipped 310th Provisional Wing (Young Tiger) at U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand.

He returned to the U.S. in April 1974 to Command the 380th Bombardment Wing at Plattsburgh AFB, NY. During his assignment, the FB-111 Aardvark/KC-135 Stratofortress Wing received the Fairchild Trophy as the best bombardment wing in the annual bombing and navigation competition.

O'Loughlin was Deputy for Maintenance, Engineering and Supply in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Systems and Logistics at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, from July 1975 to June 1977. He then became Vice Commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, OK.

He was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Contracting and Manufacturing at Air Force Logistics Command Headquarters in December 1978 and was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for Maintenance there in June 1979. Transferring to Kelly AFB, TX, in March 1981, O'Loughlin served as Commander of the San Antonio Air Logistics Center. In July 1982, he was named Vice Commander of Air Force Logistics Command.

On 1 November 1984, O'Loughlin was promoted to the four-star rank of General and assumed his final assignment as Commander of the Air Force Logistics Command. During his tenure at AFLC, he influenced the development of the B-1B Lancer.

General O'Loughlin retired from the Air Force in 1987. During his service, he became a Command Pilot with over 6,000 flying hours.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit (2 Awards)

Distinguished Flying Cross

Bronze Star Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal (5 Awards)

Badges

Command Pilot Badge