Hefley, William T. (William Tell), 1906-1991

William Tell Hefley (b. 1906, Cameron, Texas-d. Aug. 15, 1991), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1928, earned pilot's wings and transferred to the Air Corps in 1932. A 3-year assignment as a maintenance officer in the Air Corps Materiel Division began his long career in this field. Following a number of assignments in the U.S., he served as deputy commander, VIII Air Force Service Command in England in 1944 and 1945, and had success in establishing procedures to speed the return of damaged aircraft to combat. In 1951 he participated in the atomic exercises held in the Mariana Islands. General Hefley became commander, Air Materiel Force, European Area in 1956 and managed the transition to an improved system for supporting U.S. Air Force and allied units in the European-African-Middle East area. He assumed command of the Transport Aircraft Logistics Center of the Air Force in 1960 and served in that position until his retirement in 1963.