John Richard Murphy (b. 1918, Minot, N.D.-d. Jan. 13, 2000), U.S. Air Force officer, graduated from West Point in 1942. During World War II, he served with the 9th Air Force in the European Theater of Operations as pilot; commander, 388th Squadron; deputy commander, 365th Group; and commander, 404th Fighter Group, flying 139 missions in P-47s. Following the War, he was assigned intelligence duties at Air Force HQ, then assumed command of the 27th Fighter Squadron. In 1949 he was assigned to the 49th Fighter Wing in Japan as operations officer, and later became commander, 49th Fighter Group. In 1950 he served as the first director of the Joint Operations Center, helping to organize the Tactical Air Control System for the Korean War. He later served as executive officer, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, and flew 30 combat missions in F-51s. He was then reassigned as commander, 49th Fighter Group, leading the Group on 89 combat missions in F-80s. Also in Korea he was director, Joint Operations Center, 5th Air Force. Following various assignments in the U.S., General Murphy returned to the 5th Air Force in Japan as director of operations. In 1965 he went to Thailand as deputy commander, 2nd Air Division, 13th Air Force, and later was assistant deputy commander, 7th Air Force/13th Air Force in Thailand. In the early 1970s, he was vice commander, 5th Air Force in Japan and chief of staff, U.N. Command/U.S. Forces Korea. He retired from Air Force service on September 1, 1975.
From the description of Murphy, John R. (John Richard), 1918-2000 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10598115
