Tunner, William H.

William H. Tunner (b. 1906, Elizabeth, N.J.-d. Apr. 6, 1983), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1928 and earned his pilot wings a year later. During the World War II years, he served as commander of the Ferrying Division, Air Transport Command (ATC), and as commander, India-China Division ATC, responsible for the “Hump” Airlift (India to China across the Himalayas). After the War, he was named commander, Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service (MATS), and shortly thereafter the Berlin Airlift was underway (1948). Next came the Korean War and a new assignment: Combat Cargo Command, a new airlift from Tokyo. In 1953, General Tunner became commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, until 1957 when he went to Air Force HQ as deputy chief of staff for operations. A year later, he was appointed commander, MATS, and he retired in 1960.