White, Thomas Dresser “Tom”.

White, Thomas Dresser “Tom”, born 06-08-1901, in Walker, Cass County, Minnesota, United States, to the bishop with the Episcopal Church, Revered John Chanler White (1867–1956) and his wife Catherine, born, Withers Dresser White (1866–1948) . John had one sister Katherine Virginia White Conry (1903–1980)  At age 16, John White graduated from St. Johns Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. Thomas then received an appointment to the US Military Academy at West Point, New York  and graduated in 1920 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the infantry. He was immediately promoted to the rank of 1st lieutenant and sent to the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, graduating in July 1921 and was assigned duty with the 14th Infantry Regiment at Fort Davis, Panama Canal Zone. In September 1924 he was selected to attend Primary Flying School at Brooks Field (now closed), Texas and graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field (now Kelly Field Annex, as part of Joint Base San Antonio), Texas, in September 1925, and was assigned duty with the 99th Observation Squadron at Bolling Field (now part of Joint Base Anacostia), Washington, DC. In June 1927 he was assigned to duty as a student of the Chinese language in Peking, China. In 1931 he returned to the United States for duty at Headquarters Air Corps, Washington, DC. Three years later he was named assistant air military attaché to Russia and the following year he was appointed assistant air military attaché to Italy and Greece at Rome. In 1938 he attended and graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field (now Maxwell Air Force Base), Alabama and then entered Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon completion of this training, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Air Corps, Washington, DC. In April 1940 he became the air military attaché to Brazil and the following August was named chief of the U.S. Military Air Mission to Brazil. In March 1942 he returned to the US and was appointed assistant chief of staff for operations of the Third Air Force at MacDill Field (now MacDill Air Force Base), Tampa, Florida, and subsequently named chief of staff. In January 1944 he was reassigned to Air Force Headquarters, Washington DC as the Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence, where he helped formulate plans for the D-Day invasion. The following September, he was sent to combat duty in the Southwest Pacific where he assumed duty as the deputy commander of the 13th Air Force, taking part in the New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Borneo military campaigns. In June 1945 he became the commander of the 7th Air Force in the Marianas and immediately moved with it to Okinawa. In January 1946, he returned with the 7th Air Force to Hawaii and that October, he was appointed chief of staff of the Pacific Air Command in Tokyo, Japan. In October 1947 he took command of the 5th Air Force in Japan. In October 1948 he returned to the US and was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force in Washington DC, where he became director of the Legislation and Liaison. In May 1950 he was appointed the Air Force Member of the Joint Strategic Survey Committee in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In February 1951 he was assigned as Director of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and five months later, he assumed duties of Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations for the Air Force. In June 1953 he was promoted to the rank of General and designated Vice Chief of Staff at that time, becoming Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force in July 1957. He retired on 30-06-1961, with 41 years of continued active military service in the US Army, US Army Air Corps, and US Air Force. Among his military decorations and awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster.  

Death and burial ground of White, Thomas Dresser “Tom”

Thomas Dresser “Tom” White passed away 22-12-1965 of leukemia at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC at the age of 64. The Thomas D. White National Defense Award, presented annually to a US citizen who has contributed significantly to the national defense of the US, is named in his honor. In 2011 he was enshrined into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

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