Salisbury, Arthur (Arthur Gillis), 1916-2005

Arthur G. Salisbury (b. 1916, Sedalia, Mo.-d. March 20, 2005), U.S. Air Force officer, completed aviation cadet training and flying school in 1940 after graduating from law school the previous year. During World War II he served in a number of key positions, first in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, including commander, 65th Fighter Squadron, flying 126 combat missions in support of the 8th Army in the Libyan desert and North Africa and participating in the invasions of Sicily and Italy; and commander, 57th Fighter Group, taking part in intercepting the mass air evacuation of German troops from Africa. In 1944 he assumed command of the 84th Fighter Wing in England and was one of the first Army Air Force officers to land on the Normandy beaches during the invasion. In 1954 he returned to England and served as deputy commander, 49th Air Division; commander, 20th Fighter Bomber Wing; and chief of staff, 3rd Air Force. He was assigned to Air Defense Command in 1958 and served at several U.S. air bases. General Salisbury became chief of staff, Aerospace Defense Command, in 1970, and assumed duty as commander, U.S. Air Forces Southern Command in the Panama Canal Zone in 1972. He retired in 1974.