Winter 2025 Militaria, Disney, & Collectibles
Lot 331:
Description
1950’s Era USAF Dress uniform of Major General Richard Carmichael, two time Distinguished Service Cross recipient. The uniform features pin back command pilot wings, bullion stars and US insignia, and a nice set of ribbon bars. Named on the inside. Richard Henry Carmichael was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1913. He graduated from San Antonio High School in 1930 and received a congressional appointment to West Point. He graduated in the class of 1936, 92nd in a class of 278. Following graduation, Lieutenant Carmichael of the Field Artillery proceeded to Randolph Field, Texas where he graduated from flying school and received his pilot wings in 1937. Today he is a rated command pilot. By far, most of his flying time has been accomplished in multi-engine type aircraft. During the period 1937-1941, he served in varied flying assignments including Hawaii, Fort Douglas, Utah and Hamilton Field, Calif. He departed Hamilton Field Dec. 6, 1941, arriving at Hickam Field the morning of Dec. 7, 1941 with his squadron of B-17s. Major Carmichael found that hostilities had begun and a heavy aerial attack was in progress. By expert flying skill he landed his B-17 on an emergency field of 1,200 feet and quickly placed it in a dispersal area. For this General MacArthur awarded him with his first of two Distinguished Flying Crosses. As commander of the 19th Bomb Group, Colonel Carmichael participated in some 25 combat missions against the Japanese. An excerpt from his Distinguished Service Cross reads, "Although both his side gunners were killed and his airplane heavily damaged, he continued to press home the attack." The courageous and effective leadership of the group resulted in the shooting down of 11 enemy fighters and in the destruction, 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 Force headquarters until assuming command of the 462nd Bomb Group. While leading his group in a B-29 attack on Yawata, Japan Aug. 20, 1944, the first daylight raid on Japan, he was shot down and remained a prisoner of war until he was liberated Aug. 29, 1945.Following a period of hospitalization, he 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 April 1, 1950, he was assigned as commander of the 98th Bomb Group. The Korean action 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 Travis to take command of the 14th Air Division at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.General Carmichael returned to the Far East as commander of the FEAF Bomber Command in May of 1953. He was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as deputy director of personnel procurement and training in May of 1953 and was made Director on Jan. 1, 1955. On July 11, 1958 he assumed his present job, that of commandant of the Air Universitys Air Command and Staff College.
Condition: See description for notes on condition. Please note that all items are sold as is without returns, so please ask questions in advance of bidding.
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