Billy Martin Minter

General, U.S. Air Force

Billy Martin Minter was born on 13 July 1926 in Oklahoma City, OK, and graduated from high school at Norman, OK, in 1944.

After service in World War II, Minter returned to the University of Oklahoma - Norman. In October 1948, he entered the U.S. Air Force as an aviation cadet and in September 1949 received his pilot wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant.

His first assignment was to the Air Training Command as a flying instructor. From November 1949 to November 1950, he was a Basic Flying Instructor in T-6 Texans at Randolph AFB, TX. He then served as an Advanced Flying Instructor in the F-51 Mustang program at Craig AFB, AL, until May 1952. After F-51 combat crew training at Luke AFB, AZ, in the summer of 1952, Minter reported to the 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 35th Fighter Group, at Johnson Air Base, Japan. The 40th was the last operational Air Force unit equipped with F-51s. During three years with this squadron, he flew F-51s, F-80 Shooting Stars and F-86 Sabres.

In September 1955, he was assigned to the 438th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Air Defense Command, Kincheloe AFB, MI, where he served as Flight Commander flying F-89 Scorpions. He also flew F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart interceptors, and served as the Group Operations Officer for the 507th Fighter Group.

Upon completing the Air Command and Staff College in August 1961, Minter reported to the 496th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Hahn Air Base, Germany. During three years at Hahn, he flew F-102 Delta Darts and served as Squadron Operations Officer and Chief of Maintenance. Later he served as Operations Staff Officer in the 86th Air Division's Directorate of Operations at Ramstein Air Base.

From December 1965 to August 1967, Minter served as Operations Officer and then Commander of the 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Selfridge AFB, MI. He later served with the 94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron.

After graduating with distinction from the Air War College in June 1968, he completed F-105 Thunderchief combat crew training with the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron at McConnell AFB, KS. He next reported to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in January 1969. After five months as Chief, Combat Operations, and Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations, Minter assumed Command of the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron. During his Southeast Asia tour of duty, he flew 106 combat missions in F-105 Thunderchiefs.

Returning to the U.S. in October 1969, he was assigned to the Air Force Logistics Command at the Sacramento Air Materiel Area (later re-designated Sacramento Air Logistics Center), McClellan AFB, CA. Following a year as Chief, Quality Control Division, Directorate of Maintenance, he was assigned to the Directorate of Materiel Management.

Minter attended the Defense Weapons System Management Course at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, in January 1971 and in September was appointed Chief of the F-111 Aardvark System Management Division at McClellan. He returned to Wright-Patterson in April 1973 and became the Inspector General for the Air Force Logistics Command. In May 1974, Minter was named the Deputy Director of Logistics (J-4), U.S. European Command, with headquarters at Stuttgart, Germany, and served in that capacity until July 1975. Minter then became Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics at U.S. Air Forces in Europe headquarters at Ramstein Air Base.

Assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC, in July 1978, he initially served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics and Engineering; and in May 1979, he became Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Engineering.

On 1 July 1982, Minter was promoted to the four-star rank of General and assigned as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (CINCUSAFE) and Commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe (COMAAFCE).

General Minter retired from the Air Force on 31 October 1984. During his service, Minter became a Command Pilot with over 5,600 flying hours.

Medals and Awards

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Legion of Merit

Distinguished Flying Cross

Bronze Star Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

Air Medal (5 Awards)

Presidential Unit Citation (2 Awards)

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (3 Awards)

Badges

Command Pilot Badge

Death and Burial

General Billy Martin Minter of Warrenton, VA, died of coronary artery disease on 6 June 2005 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.

Billy Minter was survived by his wife of 53 years, Marion Minter of Warrenton; and five children: Mark H. Minter of Leadville, CO, Stephen L. Minter of Tucson, AZ, Patricia Minter-Powell of Watertown, NY, Lisa M. Minter of Southampton, MA, and Lori J. Minter of Williamsburg, VA; one brother, Robert W. Minter of Wynnewood, OK; and 11 grandchildren.