BrigGen Frank L. Gailer Jr. USAF (Ret)

General Gailer was born in Bakersfield, California on November 13, 1923. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to New York, finally settling in Great Neck, Long Island. He was graduated from Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, VA, in 1941, and attended Hofstra College, Hempstead, N.Y., until June 1942. He then entered the aviation cadet program and received pilot training at Parks Air College, Illinois; Garden City, Kansas; and Eagle Pass, Texas, where he earned his pilot wings and commission as a second lieutenant.
In February 1944 Gailer was transferred to P-40 training at Thomasville, Georgia. In July 1944 he joined the 357th Fighter Group in England as a P-51 pilot. Flying with the 363rd Fighter Squadron, he was credited with destroying 6 ½ enemy aircraft before he was shot down in November 1944 and interned by the Germans as a prisoner of war in Stalag One.
General Gailer returned to the United States in 1945; and until June 1946, he served as base flight operations officer at Selfridge Field, Michigan. He was then assigned to the Panama Canal Zone, as a squadron commander in the 6th Fighter Wing, until January, 1949.
Then followed Latin America assignments, National War College and Training Command duty. Commanded 35th Tactical Fighter Wing flying F-100s in Vietnam 1968-69. Commanded 48th Tactical Fighter Wing in England 1969-70. Promoted to Brig. General and was Vice Commander 3rd Air Force.
Awards: Legion of Merit w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal w/20 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart