Talmant, Alex W., 1919-

Alex W. Talmant was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1919, where he attended local schools and Springfield Junior College before entering St. Louis University as a medical student from 1940-1941. That year, he joined the Army Air Corps and attended flying schools, graduating at Lubbock Field, Texas in July, 1942 with his commission as a Second Lieutenant and his pilot wings. During World War II, he was assigned to the 97th Bombardment Group and served in England and North Africa. He flew 56 combat missions during the war, commanding B-17 crews. After the war, he served as Chief of the Control Unit at Headquarters, 2nd Air Force in Colorado Springs, Colorado before returning to England in 1948 as Director of Maintenance (and later, Director of Logistical Planning) at Headquarters, 3rd Air Division. He returned to the U.S. in 1951, serving as Chief of the Operations and Training Division of the Office of the Inspector General at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C. Talmant served in numerous command roles throughout the 1950s at Air Force bases around the U.S., including March AFB, California, Biggs AFB, Texas, the Alaskan Command, and Fairchild AFB, Washington. In 1960, he was assumed the role of Deputy Director of Materiel at Headquarters, 15th Air Force, and played an instrumental role in the development of the Atlas, Titan, and Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems within the Strategic Air Command (SAC). He would continue to serve with the SAC at several other assignments before being assigned to the 4258th Strategic Wing at U Tapao Air Field, Thailand, from which he would launch over 100 combat missions over Vietnam. Talmant logged over 6,000 flight hours over the course of his Air Force career, and was rated as a command pilot. His career decorations included the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and Purple Heart.