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| Information > Biographies > BRIGADIER GENERAL VERNON H. SANDROCK |
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BRIGADIER GENERAL VERNON H. SANDROCK
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Retired July 1, 1980.
Died Jan. 12, 1999.
Brigadier General Vernon H. Sandrock is deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.
General Sandrock was born in Holstein, Iowa, in 1925, and graduated from Bellevue High School, Bellevue, Iowa, in 1943. He graduated from Parks College of Aeronautical Technology at East St. Louis, Ill., and received a bachelor of science degree from St. Louis University. General Sandrock completed the Squadron officer Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1953; graduated from the U.S. Air Force Flight Safety School at the University of Southern California in 1956 and from the Experimental Flight Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in 1958.
He received his commission through the aviation cadet program and graduated as a 19-year-old second lieutenant pilot in March 1945. Following a brief tour of duty in Germany, General Sandrock took a break in service to attend college, during which time he flew F-51s with the Air National Guard's 110th Fighter Squadron at St. Louis, Mo.
Recalled to active duty in March 1951, General Sandrock has been primarily engaged in the tactical fighter business throughout his career. His many operational fighter squadron assignments include flight commander, instructor pilot, operations officer and commander. While maintaining fighter aircraft flying and combat-ready status, he also had numerous aircraft maintenance assignments, including flight test, quality control, maintenance control and field maintenance squadron commander.
In July 1951 General Sandrock was transferred with the 131st Fighter-Bomber Wing (later designated the 479th Fighter-Day Wing) from Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, to George Air Force Base, Calif., where he flew the F-51, T-33, and F-86 aircraft. From June 1954 to July 1955, General Sandrock served in Korea with the 69th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 58th Fighter-Bomber Wing, as an operations officer and F-86 pilot. Initially based at Taegu, his squadron relocated at Osan Air Base after being deployed to Formosa to aid in the defense of the island.
General Sandrock next served as an air instructor and group air operations officer with the Air Reserve Flying Center at Niagara Falls, N.Y., flying T-28, T-33, F-80, and F-84 aircraft. In May 1958, he again joined the 479th Fighter-Day Wing at George Air Force Base. Flying F-100 and F-104 aircraft, he participated in the Tactical Air Command rotational deployments to Moron Air Base, Spain.
In January 1962, he was assigned to the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, Wethersfield, England, and flew the F-100 for three and one-half years. In September 1966, General Sandrock was transferred to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in Southeast Asia as an F-104 pilot and operations officer with the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron. From July 1967 to September 1970, he served at Headquarters 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, first as chief, Tactical Training Division, and later as assistant director of the Fighter/Recon/Tanker Deputate.
General Sandrock returned to Southeast Asia in September 1970 to command the 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron, flying F-4Es, at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. He later was reassigned to Ubon RTAFB, where he flew F-4D's and became deputy commander for operations of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. In September 1971, he was transferred to the Office of the U.S. Air Force Inspector General, with duty at the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center, Norton Air Force Base, Calif., as the chief of a Management Effectiveness Inspection Branch.
General Sandrock had a two-year tour with the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, as the deputy commander for operations and vice commander of the wing, flying F-4E and F-4C aircraft, before returning to Korea in August 1975 to command the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical). This assignment includes the period of increased readiness in Korea following the Aug. 18, 1976 slaying of two United States officers by North Korean security guards in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone.
General Sandrock assumed his present duty as deputy chief of staff for logistics, Headquarters PACAF, in June 1977.
He is a command pilot with 5,000 flying hours in 24 different aircraft. During his two combat tours in Southeast Asia, General Sandrock flew 270 combat missions, including 113 over North Vietnam. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 21 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
General Sandrock was promoted to the grade of brigadier general June 1, 1977, with date of rank May 28, 1977.
(Current as of June 1977)
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