Old, Archie J., 1906-1984

Archie J. Old, Jr. (b. 1906, Farmersville, Tex.-d. Mar. 24, 1984), U.S. Air Force officer, enlisted as a private in the Texas National Guard in 1930, completed flying training and was commissioned in the Air Reserve in 1932. He was ordered to extended active duty in 1940, and in 1942 assumed command of the 96th Bomb Group and moved to the European Theater. In 1943 he became chief of the 45th Combat Bomber Wing, 8th Air Force. During World War II, he flew 43 combat missions against Germany. Following the War, General Old was commanding general, Southwest Pacific Wing of Air Transport Command and the China Wing. In 1946 he received his Regular Army commission. He commanded two Strategic Air Command (SAC) Divisions-the 7th in England and the 5th in French Morocco-beginning in 1951. Also in the 1950s, he was director of operations for SAC and commanded the 15th Air Force. In 1957 he flew the lead airplane in the first round-the-world flight of three Boeing B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers, a project assigned to the 93rd Bombardment Wing, 15th Air Force. He retired in 1965.