Lewis E. Lyle
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Lewis E. Lyle | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lewis Elton Lyle |
| Born | 22 June 1916 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | 6 April 2008 (aged 91) Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands held | |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
|
Lewis Elton Lyle (22 June 1916 – 6 April 2008) was a United States Air Force major general, B-17 Flying Fortress pilot, and senior Eighth Air Force bomber commander during World War II. A member of the original 303rd Bombardment Group at RAF Molesworth, he advanced from squadron command to command of the 303rd Bombardment Group, the 379th Bombardment Group, and the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.[1][2]
Lyle flew 69 officially credited combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. His combat decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, three awards of the Silver Star, four awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and ten awards of the Air Medal.[1][3]
After the war, Lyle remained in the Air Force and held command and staff assignments in the Strategic Air Command. He retired in 1967 as a major general. In later life, he helped establish the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, linking his wartime service to later efforts to preserve the history of the Eighth Air Force.[4][5]
Early life and education
Lyle was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on 22 June 1916, the son of Lewis Eley Lyle and Nellie West Lyle.[4][6] He graduated with honors from what is now Ouachita Baptist University in 1938 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry Reserve.[1][4]
Lyle entered active duty in December 1940 as an officer in an anti-tank company. In May 1941, he was selected for aviation cadet training, and in December 1941 he received his pilot wings and was recommissioned.[1] The 303rd Bomb Group Association states that he graduated from pilot training at Brooks Field, Texas, as part of class 41-I on 12 December 1941.[7]
World War II
303rd Bombardment Group
During World War II, Lyle served in the European Theater as a B-17 pilot. The United States Air Force credits him with 510 combat hours and 69 combat missions from October 1942 to June 1945.[1] The 501st Combat Support Wing obituary states that he flew 70 combat missions, while the 303rd Bomb Group Association records 69 credited missions.[2][7] The Encyclopedia of Arkansas describes him as having flown more combat missions than any other lead pilot and as one of the war's most decorated aviators.[4]
Lyle arrived in England in October 1942 as one of the original members of the 303rd Bombardment Group, which operated from RAF Molesworth.[2] He served in the group's 360th Bombardment Squadron, became squadron commander on 31 December 1942, and by June 1943 had become group air executive.[2][7]
According to the 303rd Bomb Group Association, Lyle's crew was assigned to the 360th Bombardment Squadron on 6 March 1942 and was photographed with the B-17F Ooold Soljer in October 1942.[7] Several members of his original crew were later killed in action on a mission to Rotterdam on 31 March 1943.[7]
Lyle's first combat tour lasted from 17 November 1942 to 4 July 1943. The 303rd Bomb Group Association records that he flew 25 missions on his first combat tour and later flew additional missions as a squadron, group, wing, or division lead pilot.[7] On 10 December 1942, he flew General Ira C. Eaker and his staff to North Africa for the Casablanca Conference.[7]
From September to October 1944, Lyle was acting commander of the 303rd Bombardment Group.[2][7]
379th Bombardment Group and 41st Combat Bombardment Wing
Lyle became commanding officer of the 379th Bombardment Group at RAF Kimbolton on 10 October 1944.[7] He was promoted to colonel in January 1945.[2] The United States Air Force biography states that he commanded the 379th Bombardment Group during the final phase of the air war in Europe.[1]
On 6 May 1945, Lyle became commanding officer of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.[7] The 41st Combat Bombardment Wing included the 303rd Bombardment Group, and Lyle held the command during the closing stage of the war in Europe.[2]
Postwar Air Force career
After World War II, Lyle returned to the United States and served as base commander at McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska, until 1946. He then attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. In July 1947, he was assigned to the Evaluation Division of the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.[1]
Lyle later served with the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and moved with the wing to Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, in September 1951. He served as deputy commander of the wing before becoming base commander at Lockbourne in October 1952.[1]
In August 1953, Lyle entered the Air War College. After graduating, he served as chief of staff of the 5th Air Division. He later served at Headquarters Strategic Air Command as chief of plans and deputy director of plans, then became commander of the Barksdale-based 4th Air Division on 1 July 1958. On 1 January 1959, he became director of plans for Second Air Force, and on 21 August 1959 he became Second Air Force chief of staff. He was promoted to brigadier general on 21 July 1961.[1]
By 1964, Lyle commanded the 818th Strategic Aerospace Division at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska. His command included the 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing, the 307th medium bomb wing, the 98th Strategic Aerospace Wing, the 549th and 551st Strategic Missile Squadrons, and the 818th Combat Support Group.[1] The USAF biography described his 818th Strategic Aerospace Division responsibilities as ranging from pre-World War II transport aircraft to the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile.[1]
Lyle retired from the Air Force on 1 July 1967.[4][2]
Later life and legacy
After retiring from military service, Lyle worked with Northeast Airlines and in real estate.[2] He married Betty Mae Mobley in September 1945; they had a son and a daughter.[4]
Lyle helped establish the Eighth Air Force Heritage Center, later the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, in Pooler, Georgia.[2][5] The Encyclopedia of Arkansas states that in 1983 he formulated a plan and directed efforts to build a museum and memorial to commemorate the men and women of the Eighth Air Force.[4] The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force states that its rotunda is named in his honor.[5]
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas also credits Lyle with helping create the World War II Aviation Memorial Wall at the United States Air Force Academy.[4] It states that he was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame.[4] The 501st Combat Support Wing reported that the American and British flags at RAF Molesworth were flown at half-staff on 8 April 2008 in his honor.[2]
Lyle died in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on 6 April 2008.[4][2][6] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 5 June 2008 with full military honors.[4]
Awards and decorations
The Air Force lists Lyle as a command pilot with more than 6,500 flying hours. His decorations included the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, British Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix de Guerre, Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and Distinguished Unit Badge.[1] The Encyclopedia of Arkansas also lists the Distinguished Service Medal among his decorations.[4]
Military Times' Hall of Valor records that Lyle received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism as a B-17 pilot with the 360th Bombardment Squadron, 303rd Bombardment Group, during bombing missions from 17 November 1942 through 15 June 1944.[3] It also records awards of the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, and Air Medal.[3]
| U.S. Air Force Command Pilot Badge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Distinguished Service Cross | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters |
| Legion of Merit | Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters | Bronze Star Medal |
| Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters | Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) | French Croix de Guerre |
| Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters | European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | Distinguished Unit Citation |
See also
- 303rd Bombardment Group
- 379th Bombardment Group
- 41st Bombardment Wing
- National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force
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 "Major General Lewis E. Lyle". United States Air Force. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Park, Peter G. (15 April 2008). "Loss of Molesworth WWII Leader: 303rd Bomb Group Commander Maj. Gen. Lewis E. Lyle". 501st Combat Support Wing. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lewis Lyle". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Martin, Charles (16 June 2023). "Lewis Elton (Lew) Lyle (1916–2008)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "The Mighty Eighth Museum". National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Lewis Lyle Obituary". Savannah Morning News. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 "Lewis E. Lyle Crew". 303rd Bomb Group. 303rd Bomb Group Association. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Maurice A. Preston |
Commander, 379th Bombardment Group 11 October 1944 – 5 May 1945 |
Succeeded by Lloyd C. Mason |
| Preceded by Maurice A. Preston |
Commander, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing May 1945 – 18 June 1945 |
Succeeded by Unit disbanded |
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- Use American English from May 2026
- 1916 births
- 2008 deaths
- People from Pine Bluff, Arkansas
- People from Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Ouachita Baptist University alumni
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- United States Army Air Forces officers
- United States Air Force generals
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
