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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL THEODORE GOURDIN KERSHAW |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL THEODORE GOURDIN KERSHAW
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Retired Aug. 1, 1964.
Died May 12, 1975.
Theodore Gourdin Kershaw was born in 1906 at Yonges Island, S.C. He graduated from The Citadel in 1927 with a bachelor of science degree in Civil Engineering and a commission in the Coast Artillery Reserve. He later attended Law School at the University of South Carolina.
He did not practice law, however, but entered flying school, finishing in the fall of 1930.
Second Lieutenant Kershaw's first assignment was as a pursuit pilot with the 18th Pursuit Group, Wheeler Field, Hawaii.
In 1935 Lieutenant Kershaw joined United Air Lines as a pilot and flew Western Division of the line until recall to active duty in the spring of 1942.
Upon recall to active duty, due to his vast multi-engine experience, he was assigned as director of training for Troop Carrier Replacement Training Unit, Camp Williams, Wis.
In early 1944 he took the 441st Troop Carrier Group overseas where Lieutenant Colonel Kershaw participated in the initial invasion of Europe out of England, South France and later Holland.
For eight months Lieutenant Colonel Kershaw flew aerial missions in the above mentioned invasions.
As group commander he was promoted to colonel in 1944.
On returning to the United States in 1945 Colonel Kershaw was released from active duty and again became affiliated with United Air Lines.
In the latter part of 1948 Colonel Kershaw was recalled to active duty as deputy chief of operations and chief pilot with the 1st Airlift Task Force of the Berlin Airlift.
At the conclusion of the Berlin Airlift he became director of operations, 61st Troop Carrier Wing, Rhine-Main, Germany.
In 1952 he was made commander of the 456th Maintenance and Supply Group Miami, Fla. He later assumed duties of wing and base executive officer of the 64th Troop Carrier Wing at Donaldson Air Force Base, S.C.
Colonel Kershaw was given the post of inspector general for Eighteenth Air Force in 1953 and during this period participated in Operation "Dogsled," Thule, Greenland, air-dropping tractors, pre-fabricated buildings and other vital equipment for weather and radar stations on the ice cap.
With the completion of "Dogsled" he was assigned the responsibility of coordinating and accomplishing airlift and airdrop operations at Frobisher Bay, Baffinland for Operation "Dew Line." For this operation Colonel Kershaw received the Legion of Merit and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
In August 1955 Colonel Kershaw assumed command of the 464th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., the position he held until July 1959. He is now commander, 315th Air Division, Tachikawa Air Base, Japan.
He was promoted to brigadier general Aug. 5, 1957.
(Current as of July 1962)
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