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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL AUBY C. STRICKLAND |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL AUBY C. STRICKLAND
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Retired July 1, 1953.
Died Aug. 16, 1969.
Auby Casey Srickland was born in Braggs, Ala., in 1895. After graduating from Lowndes County High School, Ala., in 1914, he attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
From May to August 1917, General Strickland attended the Officers' Training Camp at Fort McPherson, Ga., and then was assigned to the Officers' Training Camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. He was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Infantry Reserve Nov. 27, 1917, and assigned with the 322nd Infantry at Camp Jackson, S.C. He moved with that regiment to Camp Sevier S.C., in May 1918.
General Strickland went to France with the 32nd Infantry and served in the Meuse-Argonne engagement. In November 1918, he was transferred to the 30th Infantry, with which he served in the American Forces in Germany until September 1919, when the regiment was stationed at Camp Pike, Ark. On July 1, 1920, he received his regular commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry and was promoted to first lieutenant the same date.
General Strickland entered the primary flying school at Carlstrom Field, Fla., in July 1921, and in April 1922 joined the 94th Squadron at Ellington Field, Texas. He entered the advanced flying school at Kelly Field, Texas, in June 1922 where he graduated in January 1923, rated a pilot and named commandant of cadets and a flying instructor. He transferred from the Infantry to the Air Corps April 24, 1924.
In February 1925, General Strickland became executive officer of the Organized Reserve Air Units at Muskogee, Okla. From July 1928 to April 1929, he was at Rockwell Field, Calif., during which assignment he was a refueling plane pilot for the endurance flight of the plane, "Question Mark," in January 1929.
General Strickland went to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in May 1929, as adjutant of the 19th Pursuit Squadron, of which he assumed command the following month. In July 1932, he was named commanding officer of the student detachment at the primary flying school at Randolph Field, Texas and in April 1933, became airdrome officer at March Field, Calif. Three months later he returned to his former assignment at Randolph Field, and in July 1934 was appointed director of flying of the primary flying school there.
In August 1937, General Strickland went to Barksdale Field, La., to command the 13th Attack Squadron. He entered the Air Corps Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Ala., in June 1939, graduated two months later and resumed command of the 13th Attack Squadron. In October 1939, he was appointed executive officer of the 20th Pursuit Group, with which he served at Barksdale Field and Moffet Field, Calif. In February 1940, he became commander of the 35th Pursuit Group, which he commanded at Moffett Field and Hamilton Field, Calif. He assumed command of Paine Field at Everett, Wash., in March 1941.
General Strickland was transferred to the North African Theater of Operations in July 1942, as commander of the IX Fighter Command. On Oct. 22, 1942, he became chief of staff of the newly-organized Desert Air Task Force, American advanced headquarters of the Western Desert Air Force, and later assumed command of that force. He became military governor of Pantelleria in June 1943, and the following October was named deputy air staff officer of the U.S. component of the Allied Expeditionary Air Forces in England.
General Strickland, in May 1944 assumed command of the 318th Fighter Wing at Glendale, Calif., and in January 1945, was designated president of the Army Air Force Board at the Army Air Force Tactical Center, Orlando, Fla. He assumed command of McChord Field, Wash., in October 19435, and commanded it until August 1947, with the exception of two brief periods. From February to June 1946, he served as a member of the War Department Interview Board at Camp McCoy, Wis., and from October to December 1946, was president of the Regular Army Interview Board at Hamilton Field, Calif. In August 1947, he assumed command of Barksdale Field, La.
Two years later, General Srickland was appointed deputy commander of the 61st Troop Carrier Wing at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, and in January 1951, became commander of the 60th Troop Carrier Wing, also at Rhein-Main.
In July 1952, General Strickland was appointed chief of staff of the 18th Air Force at Donaldson Air Force Base, Greenville, S.C.
General Strickland was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for service as chief of staff and later commanding general of the Desert Air Task Force, Ninth U.S. Air Force, from the Battle of the El Alamein to the expulsion of the Axis forces from Africa. He received the Legion of Merit for services from June 17 to Aug. 26, 1943, as military governor of the Island of Pantelleria.
General Strickland is rated a command pilot, combat observer, and aircraft observer.
(Up to date as of Aug. 3, 1953)
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