Upthegrove, Fay R. (Fay Roscoe), 1905-1992

Fay Roscoe Upthegrove (1905-1992) was born in Port Alleghany, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York on June 14, 1927. He received his commission that year as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry, went on to graduate from Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas in 1928, and was transferred to the Army Air Corps. In 1929, he graduated from Chemical Warfare School at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. During the 1930s, he served in numerous instructional and command assignments around the United States and the Territory of Hawaii. In August, 1939, Upthegrove graduated from the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. At the outbreak of World War II, he served briefly in the Pacific Theatre from February to April, 1942, and was then reassigned to command the 305th Bomb Group at Salt Lake City, Utah. He later took command of the 99th Bomb Group at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona. The group served in the North Africa campaign in 1943. He also served as commander of the 304th Bomb Wing of the 15th Air Force in Italy. After returning to the United States in August, 1945, Upthegrove returned to flight instructional roles at Smyrna Field, Tennessee, and Turner Field, Georgia. He assumed overall command of Chanute Field, Illinois in 1946. In 1948, he was reassigned overseas, serving in command roles in Germany under the U.S. Air Forces, Europe. Having joined the Strategic Air Command in 1951, he also served in command roles in Okinawa under the U.S. Air Forces, Far East. Transferred to the Air Training Command in 1955, he was assigned command of the 3380th Technical Training Wing at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. General Upthegrove's career achievements include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster and Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters. He was rated as a command pilot, combat observer and senior aircraft observer. He retired from active duty on July 31, 1957.