Howard W. Moore
Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force

Howard W. Moore was born in Farmersburg, IN, in 1913. He graduated from Farmersburg High School in 1931.

Military Career

Moore enlisted in the 145th Infantry, 37th Division, Ohio National Guard on 1 April 1937. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry, National Guard of the United States, on 15 October 1940. On 10 September 1941, while assigned to the 153rd Observation Squadron, Key Field, Meridian, MS, Lieutenant Moore's application for pilot's rating was approved by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Air Corps. The approval was granted in view of his previous commercial flying experience.

In April 1942, Moore was reassigned to the 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) for operational training prior to overseas deployment in October 1942. As Commander of the 67th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, Capt Moore led the group on the first daylight raid over Germany. During his combat tour in England and North Africa, he was awarded the Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.

He returned overseas in March 1945 as Director of Operations of the Occupational Air Force for Austria. He accompanied the first Allied Team to meet the Russians in Vienna after the German surrender in May 1945 for the purpose of defining Allied occupational areas for the city of Vienna. Moore was later assigned as Chief, Aeronautics Section, Air Division, U.S. Forces Austria in 1945, and while serving in this capacity, assisted in drafting of the Austrian Peace Treaty.

In 1947 he became the private pilot of General Mark W. Clark, Commander, U.S. Forces Austria, and flew him and Ralph Earhardt, U.S. Minister to Vienna, to Moscow in a B-17 to participate in the Foreign Ministers Conference being held there. In July 1947, Lt Col Moore was assigned as Liaison Officer, Headquarters 6th Army, Presidio, San Francisco, CA. In June 1948, he was appointed to the additional duty as Deputy Chief of Staff for Air in the pilot program directed by James Forrestal, then Secretary of Defense, for unification of the services in the western states.

After participating in the B-36 program at Carswell Air Force Base, TX, Moore was assigned as Base commander, Rapid City Air Force Base, SD. In June 1952 he was named Deputy Commander, 18th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Rapid City Air Force Base, and then in July 1954, returned to Carswell Air Force Base to assume Command of the 11th Bombardment Wing (Heavy).

During the three years as Commander of the 11th Bombardment Wing, his Wing won the coveted Fairchild Trophy two out of three years in Strategic Air Command Bombing and Navigation Competition. In June 1957, the Wing was the first in Strategic Air Command to receive 100 percent on a no-notice inspection (unit simulated combat mission). For these achievements, Col Moore was awarded the Legion of Merit and the 11th Bombardment Wing was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its performance during the period October 1954 to August 1957.

Moore attended the National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, DC, in August 1957 and, upon graduation, was assigned as Commander of the 4130th Strategic Wing, Bergstrom Air Force Base, in Austin, TX. He organized and upgraded the wing to combat-ready status and in August 1959 was assigned as Commander, 816th Air Division, Altus Air Force Base, OK. On 9 September 1961, Brig Gen Moore took Command of the 19th Air Division, Carswell Air Force Base, TX, and served in that capacity until he assumed his duties as Deputy Commander, Ogden Air Materiel Area (Air Force Logistics Command), with headquarters at Hill Air Force Base, UT, on 27 July 1965.

At the time of his retirement on 1 November 1966, Brig Gen Moore was rated a Command Pilot and was current in the B-52 Stratofortress and B-58 Hustler. Moore was the first general officer to become fully qualified in the B-58.

Medals, Awards & Badges

Silver Star Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
American Theater Campaign Medal
European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Command Pilot Badge

In Retirement

After retiring, he was 52 years old and moved back to his home in Ft. Worth, TX. General Dynamics was working on the F-16, so he was a welcome addition to their operation. He was named Chief of Training, a job he held for the next six years.

His last occupation was to take up ranching. He joined a partner, and between them, they had 50 head of cattle. Being a rancher was not as much fun as flying, so he gave up that occupation, and enjoyed retirement at his home in Ft. Worth with his wife of 72 years. Margaret Myers Moore had been his 7th grade sweetheart. The couple lost one child. Their son, Howard, Jr., followed in his father's footsteps and then became a Captain on a major airline.

Death and Burial

Brigadier General Howard W. Moore died on 2 April 2007 in Fort Worth, TX. He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX.