Wheless, Hewitt T. Captain

Hewitt Terrell Wheless (b. 1913, Menard County, Tex.-d. Sept. 7, 1986), U.S. Air Force officer, began his military career in the infantry reserve and, after pilot training, received his commission in the Army Air Corps in 1939. During World War II, he served with the 19th Bombardment Group in the Philippines, Java, and Australia, and as director of operations, 314th Bombardment Wing on Guam. Back in the U.S., he was deputy chief of staff, operations for the 58th Bombardment Wing and 8th Air Force, and commander, 7th Bombardment Group. After the War he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the U.S. and in England, in several different Operations positions. In the early 1960s, General Wheless was the SAC director of plans, then chief of staff. In 1965 he was appointed assistant vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, and in 1967 the role of Senior Air Force member, Military Staff Committee, United Nations, was added to his responsibilities. He retired in 1968.