General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry.
In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...
John William Vogt Jr. (March 18, 1920 – April 16, 2010) was a
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...
of the
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
who later achieved the rank of general in the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
during the
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
United States Air Forces in Europe
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
at
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Rhineland-Palatinate, southwestern Germany. It serves as the headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and NATO Alli ...
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', April 18, 1972. Accessed September 11, 2020. "Gen. John William Vogt Jr., who is directing the intensified bombardment of North Vietnamese forces in South and North Vietnam, is holding down his first command since he led a fighter squadron over the beaches of Normandy in World War II.... General Vogt was born on March 18, 1920, in Elizabeth, N. J., and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School there in 1938." He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
and his Master of Arts from
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
. He was also a fellow of the Harvard School for International Affairs. In 1941 he entered the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet and attended flying schools at
Randolph Field
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Bexar County, Texas, ( east-northeast of Downtown San Antonio).
Opened in 1931, Randolph has been a flying training facility for the United States Army Air Corps, the United ...
and
Ellington Field
Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base is a joint installation shared by various active component and reserve component military units, as well as aircraft flight operations of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the aegi ...
, Texas. He received his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant in April 1942.
From April to December 1942, he served as a fighter pilot with the 63d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. In January 1943 he accompanied his squadron to England and completed a combat tour of duty as a flight commander. In May 1944 he became commander of the 360th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, and completed a second combat tour. He participated in the Air Offensive, Europe, and Rhineland campaigns and the Normandy Invasion.
He destroyed eight enemy aircraft in aerial combat and in so doing became an ace.
From November 1945 to July 1946, he served as commander of the First Air Base Squadron and Ibura Army Base at Recife, Brazil, where he remained until he returned to the United States.
After various staff assignments, he was assigned, in 1951, to the Office of the Special Assistant to the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Security Council Affairs, where he worked with the senior staff, and later, the planning board of the National Security Council.
In August 1955 he became assistant deputy for plans and operations, Headquarters Far East Air Forces, Japan. The following year, he was transferred to
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) United States Air Force installation, installation, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lieutenant Colonel (United States), Lieutenant Colonel Horace Meek Hickam. The installation merged ...
, Hawaii, as the special assistant to the chief of staff, commander in chief, Pacific.
In 1960 Vogt was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, as deputy assistant director of plans where he functioned as the Air Force planner in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Later, he became the assistant director of plans for joint matters, with responsibility for the preparation of Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force positions for consideration of the chief of staff.
In February 1963 he became the director of the policy planning staff, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs. In this assignment, he was the head of staff of defense department planners, both civilian and military, who participated in the drafting of political/military plans.
In August 1965 he began a three-year tour of duty as deputy for plans and operations,
Pacific Air Forces
The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
, in which capacity he participated in the planning and direction of the air campaign against North Vietnam. He left Hawaii in June 1968 to become assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
In August 1969 he joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as director for operations (J-3). On July 20, 1970, he became
director of the Joint Staff
The director of the Joint Staff (DJS) is a three-star officer who assists the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a cabinet of senior military officers within the United States Armed Forces who advise the secretary of defense and the president on milita ...
, a position he held until April 7, 1972, when he was promoted to general.
He assumed duty as commander,
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
(PACAF), and deputy commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, on April 10, 1972, replacing General John D. Lavelle who had been forced to resign. Vogt was responsible for air operations in Southeast Asia for the last eighteen months of United States combat activity. With the cease-fire in Vietnam he became the commander of the U.S. Support Activities Group in Thailand which conducted all U.S. air activities in Laos and Cambodia until U.S. combat involvement ceased in August 1973. He became commander in chief of Pacific Air Forces on October 1, 1973, and assumed command of Allied Air Forces Central Europe and
United States Air Forces in Europe
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
in June 1974. He is the only officer to have been commander in chief of both the U.S. Pacific and European Air Forces.
He retired from the Air Force on August 31, 1975.
He died on April 16, 2010.
He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 59, Site 4224.
Awards and decorations
His military decorations and awards include:
Vogt was the 1973 recipient of the General H.H. Arnold Award of the Arnold Air Society in recognition of outstanding contributions to military aviation and aerospace progress.
See also
*
List of commanders of USAFE
The commander, United States Air Forces Europe (COMUSAFE) is the most senior officer and head of the United States air forces in Europe.
List of USAFE commanders
References
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency
See also
*List o ...