Timberlake, Edward J. (Edward Julius), 1909-1990

Edward Julius Timberlake (1909-1990) was born in Fort Hunt, Virginia, and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on June 11, 1931. After graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. In 1932, he attended and graduated from both the Air Corps Primary Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas, and the Air Corps Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas. He served in the 72nd Bomb Squadron and as Engineering Officer to the 40th Attack Squadron at Luke Field, Territory of Hawaii. From 1935-1940, he was assigned as a flight instructor at the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field. He later held command positions with the 6th Bomb Squadron, and the 98th and 93rd Bomb Groups at bases in Florida and Louisiana, respectively. In January, 1943, Timberlake deployed overseas to England as Commander of the 93rd Bomb Group, which became known as ¿Ted's Flying Circus¿. He also served as Commander of the 20th Combat Bomb Wing in the European Theater of Operations. In this capacity, he served as one of the planners of the famed Ploesti raids by Allied Forces in Romania. In May, 1945, as hostilities in Europe ceased, Timberlake was reassigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Air Forces, and later to Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., where he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel of the Continental Air Forces. From 1946-1947, he attended the National War College, and was again assigned Headquarters of the newly formed United States Air Force. In the late 1940s, Timberlake again deployed overseas and held various command positions in the far east, including at bases in Japan and Korea. This included an assignment as Commander of the Fifth Air Force during the Korean Conflict. In August, 1951, he was appointed Commander of the Ninth Air Force in the U.S., a position he would hold for the next six years. In 1957, he was appointed Commander of the Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force for NATO. Later in 1958, he was assigned to be Vice Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe. After returning to the U.S., he held command positions at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, and with the Continental Air Command. His numerous career awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and Distinguished Unit Citation. Lieutenant General Timberlake retired from active duty on June 16, 1965.