Albert L. Melton
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Albert L. Melton | |
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| Born | 1928 Woodville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Air Force |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 14th Air Division 58th Tactical Fighter-Training Wing 12th Tactical Fighter Wing 3645th Pilot Training Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Korean War Vietnam War |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal (×4) Air Force Commendation Medal Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (×4) Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
Albert L. Melton (born 1928) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force who retired in September 1977 after 28 years of service. A command pilot with more than 8,200 flying hours (roughly 5,200 accumulated as an instructor in fighters and trainers), he spent the first two decades of his career teaching other pilots before taking combat command during the Vietnam War. In 1971, he commanded the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing at Phù Cát Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, flying 90 combat missions in the F-4D Phantom II and overseeing the wing's inactivation and the transfer of the base to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force. His final assignment was commanding the 14th Air Division at Beale Air Force Base, California, where Strategic Air Command concentrated its SR-71, B-52, and KC-135 operations.
Born in Woodville, Alabama, Melton grew up in Scottsboro, Alabama, and enlisted in the aviation cadet program in 1949. After earning his wings and commission in 1950, he passed through a succession of instructor billets at Perrin, Williams, Luke, Moody, and Laughlin Air Force Bases, interspersed with an exchange assignment training Republic of China Air Force pilots in Taiwan. He attended both the Armed Forces Staff College and the Air War College before qualifying in the F-4 and deploying to Vietnam. Promoted to brigadier general effective August 1974, he assumed command of the 14th Air Division in September of that year and retired from Beale on 1 September 1977.
His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.
Early life and initial training
Melton was born in Woodville, Alabama, in 1928 and attended Jackson County High School in Scottsboro, Alabama.[1] He enlisted under the aviation cadet program in September 1949 and received his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in October 1950.[1]
After graduating from Pilot Instructor School at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama, in February 1951, Melton joined the 3555th Pilot Training Wing at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas, as an instructor pilot.[1] In January 1952 he transferred to the 3525th Pilot Training Wing at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, where he instructed students in the T-6, T-28, F-80, and T-33.[1]
Korea and Japan (1954–1955)
In May 1954, ten months after the Korean War armistice, Melton transferred to Taegu Air Base, Korea, where he flew the T-33, F-84G, and F-86F with the 311th Fighter Bomber Squadron of the 58th Fighter Bomber Wing.[1] From December 1954 to July 1955, he participated in Project Checkout as a T-33 instructor pilot with the 6000th Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan.[1]
Luke Air Force Base and Taiwan (1955–1961)
Returning to the continental United States, Melton spent four years at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, with the 3600th Combat Crew Training Wing (redesignated the 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing during his tenure), serving as a T-33, F-84, and F-100 instructor pilot, flight commander, squadron operations officer, and wing operations and training officer.[1]
In June 1959 he began a two-year tour as an operations adviser with the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Taiwan, flying the F-86F and RF-100A with the Republic of China Air Force at Taoyuan Air Base.[1]
Moody Air Force Base and Armed Forces Staff College (1961–1965)
From July 1961 to August 1964, Melton served with the 3550th Pilot Training Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, as an instructor pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation for T-33 and T-37 aircraft.[1] He then attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, before reporting to Laughlin Air Force Base in January 1965.[1]
Laughlin Air Force Base and Air War College (1965–1970)
Melton served first as operations officer and then as commander of the 3645th Pilot Training Squadron at Laughlin until May 1968, when he became deputy commander for operations of the 3646th Pilot Training Wing, overseeing the base's undergraduate pilot training program.[1]
He attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, from August 1969 to May 1970.[1] On completing the college, Melton attended Sea Survival School at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, Survival School at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, then completed T-33 refresher training and qualification in the F-4 Phantom II before receiving orders to Southeast Asia.[1]
Vietnam War: 12th Tactical Fighter Wing (1971)
From March through December 1971, Melton served at Phù Cát Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, first as vice commander and then as commander of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing.[1] The wing had moved to Phù Cát in April 1970 to replace the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing as part of the Vietnamization drawdown, and operated two squadrons of F-4D Phantoms.[2]
During his tour, Melton flew 90 combat missions totaling 131 combat hours in the F-4D.[1] On 20 October 1971 the wing flew its last combat sortie, and on 17 November 1971 the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated.[2] Phù Cát Air Base was formally transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force in December 1971.[1][2]
58th Tactical Fighter-Training Wing (1972–1974)
In February 1972, Melton was assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, as vice commander of the 58th Tactical Fighter-Training Wing.[1] He assumed command of the wing in August 1972 and held it through his selection for general officer rank.[1]
He was promoted to the grade of brigadier general effective 1 August 1974, with a date of rank of 21 July 1974.[1]
14th Air Division, Beale Air Force Base (1974–1977)
Melton assumed command of the 14th Air Division at Beale Air Force Base, California, in September 1974.[1] The division, an intermediate command echelon of Strategic Air Command, oversaw reconnaissance, bombardment, and aerial refueling organizations at Beale operating the SR-71 Blackbird, B-52, and KC-135 Stratotanker.[1][3] The 14th Air Division also supervised Strategic Air Command's initial combat crew training for the U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft and for the KC-135 and B-52G/H force.[3]
Melton retired from the United States Air Force on 1 September 1977.[1]
Awards and decorations
Melton was a command pilot with more than 8,200 flying hours, of which approximately 5,200 were accumulated as an instructor pilot in fighter and trainer aircraft.[1]
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| U.S. Air Force Command Pilot Badge | ||
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| Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross | Meritorious Service Medal |
| Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters |
Air Force Commendation Medal | Presidential Unit Citation |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device and three oak leaf clusters |
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
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See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 "Brigadier General Albert L. Melton". United States Air Force. Retrieved 18 May 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kelley, Michael (2002). Where We Were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 397. ISBN 978-1555716257. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Factsheet 14 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
Further reading
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albert L. Melton. |
- Nalty, Bernard C. (2000). The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia: The War in South Vietnam, Air War over South Vietnam 1968–1975 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 978-1478118640. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) Search this book on
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- Use American English from May 2026
- 1928 births
- People from Jackson County, Alabama
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- United States Air Force generals
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- American military personnel of the Korean War
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- Air War College alumni
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