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Note: H2259
Note: LIEUTENANT GENERAL OLIVER S. PICHER
Retired May 11, 1960, Died July 20, 1984
Oliver Stanton Picher was born in Pasadena, Calif., in 1905. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Harvard University in 1928. He enlisted as an aviation cadet, earned his wings, and was commissioned successively in the Air Reserve and Regular Army.
In May 1930 he went to Hawaii for two years with the 6th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field. He joined the 35th Pursuit Squadron at Langley Field, Va., took the maintenance engineering armament course at the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, Ill., and in Oct. 1936, as a first lieutenant, was assigned to the 9th Bomb Group at Hamilton Field, Calif.
Lieutenant Picher returned to Hawaii for assignment to the 31st Bomb Squadron at Hickam Field and was promoted to captain in May 1940. He returned home for assignments to the Advanced Flying Schools at Stockton, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz., with promotion to major. In June 1941 he went to Headquarters Army Air Force, first in organization and equipment, and then as executive officer to the assistant chief of staff for operations, with advancement to lieutenant colonel. He went to the South Pacific in July 1943 as commanding officer of the 13th Air Force's 307th Bomb Group.
In October he was promoted to colonel. He earned the Silver Star, three Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, serving in combat until February 1945, when he returned to Washington for duty with the Operations Division of the War Department General Staff. He attended the National War College. He next served as executive for the director of plans and operations and in June 1948 became chief of the Operations Division after promotion two months previously to brigadier general.
General Picher went to Japan in September 1949 as commanding general of Far East Air Force's 315th Air Division at Itazuke. The following March he became inspector general of FEAF at Tokyo and a year later was named deputy for personnel in the command, with promotion March 8, 1952 to major general. He again returned to Washington and became assistant for programming under the deputy chief of staff for operations. In June 1955 he was appointed deputy director of strategic plans for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He was promoted to lieutenant general April 1, 1958.
National Cemetery of the Pacific
Picher, Oliver Stanton, b. 01/16/1905, d. 07/20/1984, LTGEN USAF, Plot: E 596-A, bur. 07/24/1984
307th Bombardment Group
Constituted as 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Apr 1942. Trained and flew patrols off the west coast, first in B-17's and later in B-24's. Moved to Hawaii, Oct-Nov 1942, and assigned to Seventh AF. Trained and flew patrol and search missions. Attacked Wake Island, Dec 1942-Jan 1943, by staging through Midway. Moved to Guadalcanal in Feb 1943 and assigned to Thirteenth AF. Served in combat, primarily in the South and Southwest Pacific, until the war ended. Attacked Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping in the Solomons and Bismarcks. Helped to neutralize enemy bases on Yap and in the Truk and Palau Islands. Received a DUC for an unescorted, daylight attack on heavily defended airfields in the Truk Islands on 29 Mar 1944. Supported operations in the Philippines by striking Japanese shipping in the southern Philippines and by bombing airfields on Leyte, Luzon, Negros, Ceram, and Halmahera. Also took part in Allied air operations against the Netherlands Indies by hitting airfields, shipping, and installations. Received a DUC for an unescorted mission against vital oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, on 3 Oct 1944. Supported Australian forces on Borneo and bombed targets in French Indochina during the last three months of the war. Flew patrol missions along the Asiatic mainland and ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Manila after V-J Day. Returned to the US, Dec 1945-Jan 1946. Inactivated on 18 Jan 1946.
Redesignated 307th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy). Activated on 4 Aug 1946. Assigned to Strategic Air Command. Equipped with B-29's. Trained and developed antisubmarine tactics. Redesignated 307th Bombardment Group (Medium) in May 1948. Based temporarily on Okinawa and attached to Far East Air Forces for operations during the Korean War. Attacked strategic objectives in North Korea, Aug-Sep 1950. After that, struck interdictory targets, including communications and supply centers, and supported UN ground forces by hitting gun emplacements and troop concentrations. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952.
Squadrons. 370th: 1942-1946; 1946-1952. 371st: 1942-1946; 1946-1952. 372d: 1942-1945; 1946-1952. 424th: 1942-1945.
Stations. Geiger Field, Wash, 15 Apr 1942; Ephrata, Wash, 28 May 1942; Sioux City AAB, Iowa, 30 Sep-20 Oct 1942; Hickam Field, TH, 1 Nov 1942; Guadalcanal, Feb 1943; New Georgia, 28 Jan 1944; Los Negros, c. 29 Apr 1944; Wakde, 24 Aug 1944; Morotai, c. 18 Oct 1944; Clark Field, Luzon, Sep-Dec 1945; Camp Stoneman, Calif, 16-18 Jan 1946. MacDill Field, Fla, 4 Aug 1946-16 Jun 1952.
Commanders. Capt Bill Jarvis, 1 May 1942; Col William A Matheny, 22 May 1942; Col Oliver S Picher, 19 Aug 1943; Col Glen R Birchard, 27 Oct 1943; Col Robert F Burnham, 28 Mar 1944; Col Clifford H Rees, Nov 1944-unkn. Col Richard T King Jr, 4 Aug 1946; Lt Col Clyde G Gillespie, 25 Aug 1946; Lt Col Frank L Davis, Sep 1946; Col John G Eriksen, 13 Jan 1947; Col Clifford Heflin, 12 Aug 1947; Lt Col John P Proctor, 15 Feb 1950; Col John A Hilger, 13 Mar 1950; Col John M Reynolds, Mar 1951; Col William H Hanson, Aug 1951; Col John C Jennison Jr, 14 Feb 1952; Col Raymond L Winn, May-16 Jun 1952.
Campaigns. World War II: Central Pacific; Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Truk, 29 Mar 1944; Borneo, 3 Oct 1944. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [Aug] 1950-[Jun 1952].
Insigne. Shield: Azure, a four-petalled dogwood bloom slipped or. (Approved 21 Dec 1942.)
315th Bombardment Wing
Lineage: Established as 315 Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 7 Jun 1944. Activated on 17 Jul 1944. Redesignated 315 Composite Wing on 8 Jan 1946. Inactivated on 20 Aug 1948. Redesignated 315 Air Division (Combat Cargo) on 10 Jan 1951. Activated on 25 Jan 1951. Redesignated 315 Air Division on 1 Aug 1967. Consolidated (1 Jul 1978) with organization established as 315th Air Division on 13 Aug 1948, organized on 18 Aug 1948, and discontinued on 1 Mar 1950. Inactivated on 15 Apr 1969.
Assignments: Second Air Force, 17 Jul 1944 (attached XXII Bomber Command, c. 14 Aug-c. 7 Dec 1944); Twentieth Air Force, c. 25 Mar 1945; XXI Bomber Command, 5 Apr 1945; Twentieth Air Force, 16 Jul 1945; Fifth Air Force, 30 May 1946; V Fighter Command, 30 May 1946; Fifth Air Force, 1 Jun 1946-1 Mar 1950. Far East (later, Pacific) Air Forces, 25 Jan 1951-15 Apr 1969.
Components
Wings: 8 Fighter (later, 8 Fighter-Bomber): 18 Aug 1948-1 Mar 1950. 38 Bombardment: 18 Aug 1948-1 Apr 1949. 314 Troop Carrier (later, 314 Tactical Airlift): attached 22-26 Jan 1966, assigned 27 Jan 1966-1 Nov 1968; attached 1 Nov 1968-8 Apr 1969. 315 Troop Carrier (later, 315 Air Commando): 10 Jun 1952-18 Jan 1955; 8 Mar-15 Oct 1966 (detached entire period). 347 Fighter: 18 Aug 1948-1 Mar 1950. 374 Troop Carrier (later, 374 Tactical Airlift): 25 Jan 1951-1 Jul 1957; 8 Aug 1966-1 Nov 1968; attached 1 Nov 1968-8 Apr 1969. 403 Troop Carrier: attached 14 Apr 1952-1 Jan 1953. 437 Troop Carrier: 25 Jan 1951-10 Jun 1952. 463 Troop Carrier (later, 463 Tactical Airlift): 23 Nov 1965-1 Nov 1968; attached 1 Nov 1968-8 Apr 1969. 475 Fighter: 18 Aug 1948-1 Apr 1949. 483 Troop Carrier: attached 1 Jan 1953-30 Jun 1954, assigned 1 Jul 1954-25 Jun 1960.
Groups: 8 Fighter: 31 May 1946-18 Aug 1948. 16 Bombardment: attached 15 Apr-1 Jun 1945. 38 Bombardment: 31 May 1946-18 Aug 1948. 61 Troop Carrier: attached 25 Jan 1951-21 Nov 1952. 314 Troop Carrier: attached 25 Jan 1951-15 Nov 1954. 315 Troop Carrier (later, 315 Air Commando): 8 Dec 1962-8 Mar 1966 (detached entire period). 316 Troop Carrier: attached 15 Nov 1954-18 Mar 1955, assigned 18 Mar 1955-18 Jan 1957 (detached entire period). 331 Bombardment: attached 12 May-22 Jun 1945, assigned 23 Jun 1945-15 Apr 1946 (not operational, c. 15 Feb-15 Apr 1946). 347 Fighter: 25 Sep 1947-18 Aug 1948. 501 Bombardment: attached 15 Apr-18 Jun 1945, assigned 19 Jun 1945-15 May 1946. 502 Bombardment: attached 12 May-25 Jun 1945, assigned 26 Jun 1945-15 Apr 1946). 6315 Operations: 20 Oct 1964-8 Aug 1966. Combat Cargo (Troop Carrier) Provisional 6492: attached 21 Sep-8 Dec 1962.
Squadrons: 21 Troop Carrier: 25 Jun 1960-8 Aug 1966 (detached entire period). 24 Helicopter: 13 Oct 1956-8 Mar 1960. 25 Tactical Reconnaissance: 31 May 1946-28 Feb 1947, attached 28 Feb 1947-15 Apr 1948. 29 Troop Carrier: 27 Jan-25 Mar 1966. 35 Troop Carrier: 8 Jan 1963-8 Aug 1966 (detached entire period). 38 Tactical Airlift: attached 8 Feb-19 Jul 1968. 41 Photographic Reconnaissance: 18 Sep 1945-4 Jan 1946. 41 Troop Carrier: c. 21 Nov 1965-8 Aug 1966 (detached entire period). 50 Troop Carrier: attached 1 Oct 1951-15 Nov 1954; assigned 26 Dec 1965-23 Feb 1966. 68 Fighter: attached 10 Apr-24 Nov 1947. 345 Troop Carrier: 1 Jun 1962-8 Jan 1963; 27 Nov 1965-25 Mar 1966 (detached entire period). 346 Tactical Airlift: attached 7 Jan-25 Mar 1969. 347 Tactical Airlift: attached 19 Jul-18 Oct 1968. 348 Tactical Airlift: 18 Oct 1968-7 Jan 1969. 421 Night Fighter: 31 May 1946-20 Feb 1947. 433 Fighter: attached 15 Oct 1946-18 Nov 1947. 776 Troop Carrier: 26 Dec 1965-25 Mar 1966. 777 Tactical Airlift: attached 31 Mar-1 Aug 1968. 778 Tactical Airlift: attached 1-23 Aug 1968. 779 Tactical Airlift: attached 7 Feb-31 Mar 1968. 815 Troop Carrier (later, 815 Tactical Airlift): 25 Jun 1960-1 Nov 1968. 817 Troop Carrier: 25 Jun 1960-8 Aug 1966 (detached entire period). 6461 Troop Carrier (later, 6461 Air Transport): 1 Dec 1952-24 Jun 1955 (detached entire period). 6475 Flying Training: 25 Nov 1954-18 May 1955 (detached entire period). 6485 Operations: 17 Sep 1956-1 Sep 1968; attached 1 Dec 1968-8 Apr 1969.
Stations: Peterson Field, CO, 17 Jul 1944; Fort Lawton, WA, 10 17 Mar 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, Marianas Islands, 5 Apr 1945; Ashiya AAB, Japan, 30 May 1946; Itazuke AAB (later, Airfield; AB), Japan, 31 May 1946-1 Mar 1950. Ashiya AS, Japan, 25 Jan 1951; Fuchu, Japan, 5 Feb 1951; Tachikawa AB, Japan, 24 Apr 1954-15 Apr 1969.
Commanders: 1st Lt Philip F. Locke, 17 Jul 1944; Lt Col Robert A. Koeper, 28 Jul 1944; Lt Col Stanley A. Zidiales, 11 Aug 1944; Brig Gen Frank A. Armstrong Jr., 29 May 1945; Col Leland S. Stranathan, 24 Oct 1945; Brig Gen Frank A. Armstrong Jr., c. Dec 1945-17 Jan 1946; unkn, 18-24 Jan 1946; Col Leland S. Stranathan, 25 Jan 1946; Col Vincent M. Miles Jr., 15 Apr-15 May 1946; none (not manned), 16-30 May 1946; Col Hanlon H. Van Auken, 31 May 1946; Col Hugh A. Parker, 19 Jul 1946; Col Travis M. Hetherington, 10 Jun 1947; Col Joshua H. Foster Jr., 21 Jun 1948; Col Marden M. Munn, 6 Aug 1948; Brig Gen Edward J. Timberlake Jr., 14 Sep 1948; Col Leo H. Dawson, 19 Jun 1949; Col Gerry L. Mason, 22 Jun 1949; Col Leo H. Dawson, c. 5 Jul 1949; Col Gerry L. Mason, 12 Jul 1949; Col Marden M. Munn, 29 Sep 1949; Brig Gen Oliver S. Picher, 23 Oct 1949-1 Mar 1950. Maj Gen William H. Tunner, 25 Jan 1951; Brig Gen John P. Henebry, 8 Feb 1951; Col Cecil H. Dhildre, 26 Feb 1952; Maj Gen Chester E. McCarty, 10 Apr 1952; Col Adriel N. Williams, 15 Nov 1954; Maj Gen Russell L. Waldren, 3 Dec 1954; Col William M. Brown, 15 May 1957; Brig Gen Charles H. Pottenger, 1 Jul 1957; Brig Gen Theodore G. Kershaw, 10 Jul 1959; Col Lopez J. Mantoux, 30 Jul 1963; Brig Gen Richard H. Ellis, 1 Sep 1963; Col Lester R. Ferriss Jr., 16 Jun 1965; Col Charles W. Howe, 13 Jul 1965; Col Robert D. Brown, 26 Jul 1968-15 Apr 1969.
Aircraft: B-29, 1945-1946; F-5, 1945-1946; B-17, 1946-1947; B-25, 1946-1950; B-26, 1946-1949; L-5, 1946, 1948-1950; P-51, 1946-1948; P-51/F-6, 1946-1948; P-61, 1946-1948; UC-64, 1946; C-45, 1948-1950; C-46, 1948-1950; C-47, 1948-1950; F-51, 1948-1950; F-61, 1948-1950; H-5, 1948-1950; H-6, 1948-1950; SB-17, 1948-1950; T-6, 1948-1950; F-80, 1949-1950; F-82, 1949-1950. C-46, 1951-1955; C-47, 1951-1957; C-54, 1951-1965; C-119, 1951-1959; C-124, 1952-1957; H-21, 1956-1960; H-19, 1957-1958; C-130, 1958-1969; C-118, 1963-1969; C 123, 1963-1966.
Operations: The 315th moved to Guam in Apr 1945. At first, subordinate units flew "shakedown" missions against Japanese targets on Moen Island, Truk, and other points in the Carolines and Marianas. Bombing missions commenced against targets in the Japanese homeland on 26 Jun 1945 when the wing damaged the Utsube River oil refinery at Yokkaichi. Thereafter, oil targets in Japan served as its primary targets. When hostilities ended, the wing's B 29s carried relief supplies to Allied prisoner of war camps in Japan and Manchuria. In Jan 1951 at Ashiya AB, Japan, the 315th Division replaced and absorbed the resources of the Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command (Provisional). During the Korean conflict, its components evacuated wounded from Korea, airdropped supplies and personnel, hauled emergency supplies, materiel, replacement troops, mail, rations and ammunition, participated in joint training exercises in Japan, took part in numerous combat missions, and operated regular transport schedules within the Far East area. Before combat operations ceased in Korea, the division began supporting French forces engaged in a war in Indo-China. From May 1953-Jul 1954, it provided C-119s to the French, trained French air crews and maintenance personnel, performed additional airlift missions in support of the French, and finally evacuated wounded French troops from Indo-China during operation Wounded Warrior. In Jul 1954, the 315th resumed normal airlift operations and participated in training exercises in Japan. In 1962, it established airlift support for the expanding conflict in Southeast Asia. Meantime, the division continued its routine airlift in the Far East, flew humanitarian missions, and participated in training exercises when possible. The crisis prompted by the North Korean seizure of the USS Pueblo in Jan 1968, found the 315th supporting an emergency airlift to the Republic of Korea.
Decorations: Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-30 Jun 1961; 1 Jul 1964-30 Jun 1966; 1 Nov 1966-31 Oct 1968. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations: 25 Jan-30 Jun 1951; 1 Jul 1951-27 Jul 1953.
He flew 31 bomber missions in B-24s in the Pacific in WW II (out of Guadal Canal and New Ginea) and won the Distinguished Flying Cross there. He was awarded 3 Legion of Merit medals during his career and got a Silver Star in Korea flying in a T-6 observation plane over enemy lines. He loved flying -- that's why he stayed in the Army Air Corps (later the Air Force) and flew every month till he retired. While he was basically an angry, demanding man with high expectations of himself and others and thus wasn't seen as a commander of others, others valued his opinions so he basically held 2nd in command positions and staff positions. For his third star he was the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and planned all there response plans to anticipated attacks and problems. During the Berlin Air Lift he was the one in charge of finding all the cargo planes all over the world and bringing them to Germany to fly food and coal into Berlin (blockaded by the Russians). He was in the Japanese Occupation after WW II as the Inspector General. When the Korean War started he was the only General in the 5th Air Force who had run a bomb group (during WW II) , so he was asked to run Operations in Headquarters (Like plan and tell everyone what to do). He slept in the office for three weeks to do this, only coning home for a shower every few days. Once again he collected all the scattered B-29 bombers from all over the world and brought them to Japan to bomb North Korean soldiers and supply lines. He had only one airplane crash. While flying an open cockpit biplane in early 1930s in New England, the motor quit and he had to land in a farmer's field. It was muddy and the plane nosed over, jamming Ollie's head into the mud 6 inches. The gas was leaking all over him, so when the farmer came out to see if he could help, Ollie said "Don't light a cigarette or we'll both go up in flames." He always proudly showed off the photo of the hole his head made. He was a dedicated military man who worked long and hard at his jobs trying to do a perfect job and was rewarded with promotions along the way. (He believed in the separation of political government from the military and, therefore, didn't vote in national elections till after he retired.) As the commanders got into their 50s, they began getting into plane crashes because their reaction times were getting longer, so the Air Force made a rule the their co-pilots had to be 40 or younger. So, Ollie flew with some of his younger staff to get his monthly flight time. One of his younger Captains told me of flying once with Ollie and half way through their planned cross country flight, they ended up facing a wall of thunderstorms that stretched for miles in both directions. The Captain suggested they land before the storm hit and spend the night. Ollie said they did't do that during the war and flew the 4 engined cargo plane right through the storm, much to the horror of the Captain as the plane was tossed all over the place. He said they got through just fine - and he expressed great admiration for Ollie's flying.
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