Samuel Egbert Anderson
General, U.S. Air Force

Samuel Egbert Anderson was born on 6 January 1906 in Greensboro, NC. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy on 9 June 1928 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery.

Anderson was immediately assigned to the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, TX, and completed the course a year later. He then proceeded to Kelly Field, TX, to attend the Observation Course at the Air Corps Advanced Flying School. After graduating on 15 October 1929, he joined the 5th Observation Squadron at Mitchel Field, Long Island, NY. On 1 November 1929, he transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps.

From September 1932 to February 1939, Anderson served as a flying instructor at Chanute Field, Rantoul, IL; he also performed various duties at Kelly Field, TX. Ordered to Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks, HI, in March 1939, he became Commanding Officer of the Sixth Pursuit Squadron. In November 1940 he was designed Wing S-3, Plans and Training Officer, 18th Composite Wing.

He was transferred to Langley Field, VA in May 1941, where he served in various capacities. In August 1941, Anderson was brought into the Air War Plans Division where he helped author AWPD-1, the American air war plan which greatly contributed to the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany. Anderson was transferred to the Office of the Assistant Chief Air Staff, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, DC, in October 1941. His next assignment was with the Operations Division, War Department General Staff, also in Washington, where he served from March 1942 until May 1943.

During this period, he saw combat in the Pacific Theater and, in June 1942, was awarded the Silver Star "for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby in Salamaua, New Guinea."

Transferring to the European Theater of Operations in May 1943 as Administrative Inspector of the Third Bombardment Wing (Medium), he assumed Command of that organization on 12 July. Two months later, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross "for extraordinary achievement while leading his Medium Bombardment Wing on two combat missions over enemy-occupied Europe on 16 July and 2 August 1943."

In October 1943, General Anderson was designated Commanding General of the Ninth Bomber Command (Medium) of the Ninth Air Force. During his European Theater tour of duty, Anderson headed various groups and, during his time as their commander, 10 of the 11 groups were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

Returning to the U.S. in May 1945, General Anderson became Chief of Staff, Continental Air Force, at Bolling Field in Washington. In February 1946, he became a member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington. In February 1948, he was appointed Director of Plans and Operations in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at U.S. Air Force Headquarters and served in that capacity until August 1950.

From August 1950 to May 1953, he served as Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force with Headquarters at Carswell Air Force Base, TX. On 31 May 1953 he relieved Lieutenant General Glenn O. Barcus as Commanding General of the Fifth Air Force in Korea. Upon assuming command of the Fifth Air Force, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General.

In May 1954 he was assigned as Director, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group (Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense-Research and Development). He held this position until his assignment as Commander of Air Research & Development Command on 1 August 1957.

Anderson was promoted to the four-star rank of General on 10 March 1959 and named the same day as Commander of the Air Material Command (AMC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. He remained in that assignment when it was re-designated as the Air Force Logistics Command on 1 April 1961.

General Anderson retired from the Air Force on 1 August 1963.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Silver and Bronze Star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Silver and Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars
United Nations Service Medal
Command Pilot Badge

Silver Star Medal Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Colonel (General Staff Corps) Samuel Egbert Anderson (ASN: 0-17244/92A), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby and Salamaua, New Guinea, on 9 June 1942. While on a mission of obtaining information in the Southwest Pacific Area, Colonel Anderson, in order to obtain personal knowledge of combat conditions, volunteered as an observer on a hazardous aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea. While on this mission, the four united States planes were intercepted by eight hostile fighters, and engaged them in combat. In spite of the enemy numerical superiority, the bombs were dropped on the target at Salamaua and our planes, after twenty-nine minutes of combat in which all planes were repeatedly hit, returned to their base. Throughout the combat, Colonel Anderson displayed coolness in spite of extreme danger. As a result of this gallant action he was able to obtain and bring back valuable information.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, General Orders No. 12 (June 18, 1942)

Death and Burial

General Samuel Egbert Anderson died on 12 September 1982. He is buried at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO, in Section 3, Row C, Lot 73.