Former Military Air Transport Service Commander Was
92
Aero-News has learned the general who once led the command
charged with re-supplying deployed US forces passed away July 2 at
his home in Bethesda, MD.
From July 1964 until he retired in August 1969, retired General
Howell M. Estes Jr. (shown above, at right) was the commander of
the Military Air Transport Service, later known as the Military
Airlift Command, during the Vietnam War.
"General Estes exemplified the meaning of service through his
leadership, professionalism and commitment to the United States Air
Force and our nation, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael
Moseley of his valuable leadership was during the Vietnam conflict.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and loved ones during
their time of loss."
In addition to his responsibilities of supporting US forces
fighting communism in the jungles of Southeast Asia, he had
oversight of a global military airlift system, now known as Air
Mobility Command, to include aeromedical evacuation operations, air
rescue, air weather, photography and mapping services throughout
the world.
The son of an Army officer, the Fort Oglethorpe, GA native
graduated in 1936 from the US Military Academy at West Point, NY
and was assigned to the cavalry before he entered pilot training
school in June 1939. Upon graduation he transferred to the Army Air
Corps and subsequently was assigned as a flight instructor at
Brooks Field, now Brooks City-Base, in San Antonio in April
1940.
In August of that same year he was appointed commandant of
cadets at the Brooks Field Advanced Flying School. He became
director of flying for the school in July 1942 and was
re-designated director of training the following year. In February
1944 he assumed command of Blackland Army Air Base in Waco, TX.
With the closing of Blackland, he assumed command of Lubbock Army
Air Field at Lubbock, TX in July 1944.
In 1947, he was transferred to the newly created US Air
Force.
During the Korean War, General Estes was on temporary duty
overseas from March to July 1951 as vice commander of the Far East
Air Forces Bomber Command. During that time, he flew 25 combat
missions over Korea with a total of 328 hours in the B-29.
General Estes was presented the General H.H. Arnold Trophy, the
highest military honor given by the Arnold Air Society, April 26,
1967, for outstanding contributions to military aviation and
aerospace programs.
His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal
(Air Force), Distinguished Service Medal (Army), Legion of Merit
with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air
Medal with oak leaf cluster.
General Estes was 92 years old.
(Aero-News thanks Air Force Print News for this
report)