Richard Henry Carmichael
Major General, U.S. Air Force

Richard Henry Carmichael was born on 11 April 1913 in Hillsboro, TX. He graduated from San Antonio High School in 1930. On 6 July 1928, Carmichael enlisted in the Texas National Guard and was honorably discharged on 5 July 1932 to allow him to enter the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated in the Class of 1936, 92nd in a class of 278 cadets, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery.

Following graduation, 2LT Carmichael proceeded to Randolph Field, TX, where he graduated from flying school and received his pilot wings in 1937. During the period 1937-41, he served in varied flying assignments including Hawaii, Fort Douglas, UT, and Hamilton Field, CA.

On 6 December 1941, he departed Hamilton Field and arrived at Hickam Field the morning of 7 December with his squadron of B-17s. Major Carmichael quickly learned that hostilities had begun and that a heavy aerial attack was in progress. Using his expert flying skills, he landed his B-17 on an emergency field of only 1,200 feet and quickly placed it in a dispersal area. For this action, General MacArthur awarded him the first of his two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

As Commander of the 19th Bomb Group, Colonel Carmichael participated in some 25 combat missions against the Japanese. The courageous and effective leadership of the group resulted in the shooting down of 11 enemy fighters and in the destruction of, or severe damage to, 50 bombers on the ground.

Returning to the Zone of Interior in November 1942, he served as Executive Assistant to General Hap Arnold at Army Air Forces headquarters until assuming command of the 462nd Bomb Group. While leading his group in a B-29 attack on Yawata, Japan, on 20 August 1944, the first daylight raid on Japan, his B-29 became the first B-29 to be shot down over Japan in World War II. He was captured and remained a prisoner of war until he was liberated on 29 August 1945.

Following a period of hospitalization, Carmichael attended the Air Command and Staff School. After graduation he served on the Air University staff as Chief of the Air Power Employment Branch, Evaluation Division. In June 1949, he assumed Command of the 11th Bomb Group and on 1 April 1950, he was assigned as Commander of the 98th Bomb Group. The Korean War found him piling up another 39 combat missions, good for 363 hours as combat commander of the 98th. Returning to the States in April 1951, he was assigned as Commander of the 93d Bomb Wing and in October 1951, he was reassigned to take command of the 14th Air Division at Travis Air Force Base, CA.

Carmichael returned to the Far East as Commander of the FEAF Bomber Command in May 1953. He was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as Deputy Director of Personnel Procurement and Training in May 1953 and was made Director on 1 January 1955. On 11 July 1958, Major General Carmichael assumed the duty of Commandant of the Air University's Air Command and Staff College.

MG Carmichael retired from the Air Force on 19 January 1961.

He is rated as a Command Pilot. By far, most of his flying time was logged in multi-engine aircraft.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Legion of Merit with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Prisoner of War Medal
Distinguished Unit Citation with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
American Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
Korean Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars
United Nations Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Command Pilot Badge

He was also awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st Award)

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) Richard Henry Carmichael (ASN: 0-20203), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber and Commander of the 19th Bombardment Group (H), FIFTH Air Force, in action over Rabaul, New Britain, on 7 August 1942. When the interdiction of hostile bombardment operations from the Rabaul area became of primary importance, Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael personally led all available airplanes of his group in an attack against the enemy airdrome at Vunakanau, Rabaul. Without the protection of fighter airplanes, the formation was intercepted by enemy fighters. Although both his side gunners were killed and his airplane was heavily damaged by hostile fire, he continued to press home the attack. His courageous and effective leadership of his group resulted in the shooting down of eleven enemy fighters and in the destruction of, or severe damage to, approximately fifty enemy bombers on the ground. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 27 (September 1, 1942)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (2nd Award)

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 Colonel (Air Corps) Richard Henry Carmichael (ASN: 0-20203), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-29 Very Heavy Bomber of the 58th Bombardment Wing, TWENTIETH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 20 August 1944, against enemy ground targets in Japan. Colonel Carmichael was Formation Commander of three B-29 aircraft on a precision daylight attack from a forward base in China against the coke ovens of the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata, Japan. Twenty minutes before the start of the bomb run, the formation was attacked by 35 to 50 enemy interceptors utilizing phosphorous aerial bombs and ramming tactics, and continuing throughout the bomb run. Disregarding fighters and the increasingly heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire, Colonel Carmichael kept his formation together and continued on the strike. In turning away, Colonel Carmichael's plane was hit by an aerial bomb in the middle wing section, putting the two starboard engines out of commission, setting several fires along the wings, and injuring two crew members. The plane went into a steep, slow diving spin with Colonel Carmichael fighting to regain control. He checked the descent long enough for seven crew members to parachute to safety. Colonel Carmichael was determined to attempt to land the plane because of the two injured men who were unable to bail out, but at about 500 feet the entire right wing burned through and dropped off. He saw that he had done all that was humanly possible to save the lives of the two remaining men and, realizing the futility of remaining with his crippled bomber, parachuted to the ground. This mission, the first daylight strike against the home islands of Japan since the Tokyo raid of 1942, completely destroyed the vital enemy iron and steel works. It proved the real effectiveness of daylight precision bombing by B-29s. Colonel Carmichael's actions, in the face of fighter and flak opposition and the hazards of mechanical failure on this mission of more than 3,000 miles, reflect great credit on himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Air Forces, General Orders No. 85 (November 27, 1945)

Silver Star Medal Citation (1st Award)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), [then Major] Richard Henry Carmichael (ASN: 0-20203), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action during the performance of aerial flight against an armed enemy. On 23 February 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael, as Commanding Officer of the 40th Reconnaissance Squadron, led a flight of airplanes in a night attack on enemy installations in Rabaul. Severe weather conditions were encountered but despite the loss of several of his flight, Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael finally reached the target area only to find it obscured by low cloud formation over the entire area. Course was then set for Gasmata, the alternative objective, and while on this course the flight was attacked by five enemy fighters, and in the action one engine of one of the airplanes was put out of commission. Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael slowed up the flight so as to protect the crippled airplane and permit it to remain in position. At this point, realizing that the target could not be reached with the fuel remaining, their course was set for Port Moresby, where landing was made with the entire flight almost without fuel. Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael's determination, calm judgment, excellent leadership, and splendid flying ability were directly responsible for the successful return of this flight through severe weather conditions and enemy resistance.

General Orders: Headquarters, Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, General Orders No. 18 (June 6, 1942)

Silver Star Medal Citation (2nd Award)

General Orders: Headquarters, Far East Air Forces, General Orders No. 115 (November 19, 1950)