Lightner, Lawrence S. (Lawrence Scott), 1918-1989

Lawrence Scott Lightner (b. 1918, Painesville, Ohio-d. Sept. 2, 1989), U.S. Air Force officer, began his military career as an aviation cadet, and received his commission and pilot wings in 1941. During the years of the Second World War, he served as squadron commander and deputy group commander, 851st Bombardment Squadron, 8th Air Force. He led a B-17 Flying Fortress group on 24 combat missions over Germany and occupied Europe and participated in D-Day air support for the Normandy invasion. He crash-landed in November 1944 and was rescued by a British Army patrol. Following the War, he held a number of positions including base commander in Tripoli, Libya; squadron commander and deputy wing commander in Germany; and base commander in the United Kingdom. From 1959 to 1963, General Lightner was commander of the 93rd Bombardment Wing and the 14th Air Division of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). In the mid-1960s, he commanded the 341st Strategic Missile Wing (SAC) and then the 813th Strategic Aerospace Division. Overseas again, he was also commander, 3rd Air Force, in the United Kingdom and assistant chief of staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, in Belgium. His last assignment was as commandant of the Air War College and vice commander of Air University. He retired in June 1973.