John W. Huston
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John W. Huston | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 6, 1925 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Died | June 18, 2021 (aged 96) Annapolis, Maryland |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |  United States Air Force |
| Rank |  Major general |
| Battles/wars | World War II (European Theater) |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters Joint Service Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal |
John W. Huston (March 6, 1925 – June 18, 2021) was a United States Air Force major general, military historian, and academic. During World War II, he flew 30 combat missions as a navigator in B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft with the 379th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater.[1] He later served for 20 years on the faculty of the United States Naval Academy, chaired its History Department, before being recalled to active duty on July 12, 1976, as Chief of the Office of Air Force History at Headquarters USAF.[1]
Early life and education
Huston was born on March 6, 1925, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps at age 17 in 1942 and completed navigator training at Selman Field, Louisiana, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in March 1944 at age 18.[1] After his military service, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Monmouth College in Illinois in 1948, a Master of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1950, and a Doctor of Philosophy in history from the University of Pittsburgh in 1957.[1]
Military career
World War II
Huston joined the 379th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force in the European Theater in May 1944, flying as a navigator on B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft. He completed 30 combat missions over Germany and Occupied Europe and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service with the group.[2] Following his combat tour, he taught navigation before leaving active duty in 1945 to return to college.[1]
Huston transferred to the United States Air Force reserve when the service became independent from the Army in 1947. From 1956 to 1976, he served on the faculty of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, teaching history. He spent his final five years on the faculty as chairman of the History Department.[1] During this period he also served as a visiting professor at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Rochester, Ball State University, and the University of Maryland.[1]
Chief of Air Force History
On July 12, 1976, Huston was recalled to active duty and appointed Chief of the Office of Air Force History at Headquarters USAF in Washington, D.C.[1] He retired from active duty on July 12, 1981. His doctoral training in history and 20 years on the Naval Academy history faculty made him well-suited to lead the Air Force's official historical program.[1] In that role he oversaw the publication of several major historical series, including the four-volume The U.S. Air Service in World War I (1978–1979).[3]
After retiring from the Air Force in 1981, Huston returned to the Naval Academy faculty, where he taught until approximately 1992–1993. He then served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at the United States Air Force Academy Department of History in 1994–1995.[1]
Publications
Huston edited the two-volume American Airpower Comes of Age: General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold's World War II Diaries (Air University Press, 2002), which drew on Hap Arnold's personal diaries to document the development of American strategic airpower.[4]
Awards and decorations
| Award | |
|---|---|
  |
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster (two awards)[2] |
 |
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters (four awards)[2] |
 |
Joint Service Commendation Medal[2] |
| File:Air Force Commendation Medal ribbon.svg | Air Force Commendation Medal[2] |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 "Major General John W. Huston". United States Air Force. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "John W. Huston – Hall of Valor". Military Times. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
- ↑ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1978). The U.S. Air Service in World War I. I. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. Search this book on
- ↑ Huston, John W. (2002). Huston, John W., ed. American Airpower Comes of Age: General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold's World War II Diaries (PDF). I–II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Air University Press. ISBN 1-58566-093-0. Retrieved May 7, 2026. Search this book on
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- 1925 births
- 2021 deaths
- United States Air Force generals
- Monmouth College alumni
- University of Pittsburgh alumni
- People from Pittsburgh
- Military personnel from Pennsylvania
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- United States Naval Academy faculty
- American military historians
