Thursday, August 04, 2016

MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM C. LINDLEY JR.

August 3, 2016

We lost one of the Greatest Generation's members. Dad died at 3:40 this afternoon with all three sons, one daughter-in-law, and his wife, Roselyn, in attendance. It was a very calm transition and mom handled it like mom always does. Gracefully and with great love.  Goodbye, Pop.  Say hi to Marty.






Jeff Lindley, Class of '66
Brothers Bill and Jon
and Mother, Roselyn
827 Schumann's Beach Road
New Braunfels, TX 78130
jlindley@satx.rr.com


Roselyn and Bill

The Lindley Guys
Jeff, Jon, Pop Lindley and Bill

Bill, Jeff, Mom Roselyn Lindley (96) and Jon


Reprinted from Biographies AFPC:

Major General William Cecil Lindley Jr., vice commander, Fifth Air Force (Pacific Air Forces).

General Lindley was born in Waynesboro, Miss., in 1919. He graduated from Starkville High School in 1936, and Mississippi State College in 1940 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. Soon after graduation, he entered pilot training with the Army Air Corps and in July 1941 received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Kelly Field, Texas.

He served for a year at Brooks Field, Texas, as an observation instructor. He next received multi-engine training and in late 1942 joined the newly activated 95th Bombardment Group as a B-17 pilot. He flew 41 missions with the 95th Group in the European Theater of Operations.

In January 1945 General Lindley returned to the United States for an assignment with the Operations and Plans Division, and later as chief of the Reserve and National Guard Division, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C. He entered the Air Command and Staff School in 1947; and, after graduation a year later, he was assigned to the Public Information Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, as chief, Special Events Division.

During the Korean War General Lindley flew the B-26 on night intruder missions as commander of the 17th Bombardment Group. He flew 50 missions before returning to the United States in March 1953 as pilot training commander at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. He later served with Headquarters Flying Training Air Force, as assistant deputy chief of operations, staff, and deputy chief of staff, installations.

In July 1958 General Lindley was assigned as deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, for the Fifth Allied Tactical Air Force in Italy. During this assignment he supervised and planned all North Atlantic Treaty Organization tactical operations for the Italian Air Force and U.S. Air Force rotational squadrons in Italy.

Following his tour of duty in Italy, General Lindley was named deputy commander of the 3525th Pilot Training Wing at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and in March 1963 he became commander. He was transferred to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, as commander of the 3510th Flying Training Wing and in February 1965 assumed duties as deputy chief of staff, operations, Headquarters Air Training Command, where he was responsible for pilot/navigator and advanced flying training, communications and electronics, operations services, and the ATC Command Post.

General Lindley assumed duties as deputy commander, Seventh Air Force/Thirteenth Air Force, Thailand in June 1967.

His military decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Croix de Guerre with Palm (France).