Eaton, Robert E. L. (Robert Edward Lee), 1909-1993

Robert Edward Lee Eaton (1909-1993) was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and attended local schools. He entered the University of Mississippi in 1926, and after his freshman year, received a Congressional appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in 1931, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. He attended flying school at Randolph Field, Texas, and received both his pilot and observer wings in late 1932. Eaton served with the Fourth Observation Squadron in Hawaii, and with the Fifth Bomb Squadron at Mitchel Field, New York, before attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a meteorology student for a year. He would then be assigned as a base weather officer at Scott Field, Belleville, Illinois. During World War II, Eaton served briefly at Patterson Field, Ohio, before being transferred to Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces, where he became Chief of the Weather Central Division there. In June, 1943, he left this position to command the 451st Bomb Group, which he would train at several stateside locations before being deployed with it to the European Theater. Under Eaton''s command, the 451st would have a storied combat career, winning the Distinguished Unit citation three times. They served in North Africa, Italy, France, the Balkans, and Germany. Eaton himself accrued over 300 flying hours while carrying out 40 combat missions. In October of 1944, he was assigned to the staff of General Carl Spaatz at U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe, planning for the final air assaults which would hasten the end of the war in Europe. In May, 1945, Eaton returned to the U.S. and served in varied roles at the Pentagon for the next eight years. He achieved his first star and had risen to the rank of Major General by 1952. In October, 1953, Eaton was assigned command of the 6th Allied Tactical Air Force, Allied Air Forces in Southern Europe, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers in Europe. In 1955, he assumed command of the 10th Air Force at Selfridge AFB, Michigan, a part of the Continental Air Command. In 1959, he returned to the Pentagon and became Chief of Staff for Reserve Forces at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. He retired from active duty approximately two years later on December 1, 1961. Eaton''s career awards and decorations include being a two time recipient of the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a five time recipient of the Air Medal. He was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit for his leadership of the 451st. He also received the French Croix de Guerre for his role in the invasion of Southern France. General Eaton died on April 3, 1993.

From the description of Eaton, Robert E. L. (Robert Edward Lee), 1909-1993 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10679540