Colonel James Steinmiller USAF

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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:

Colonel James E. Steinmiller graduated from the Air Force's Aviation Cadet Program, received his pilot's wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in April 1954. He retired in April, 1984. He flew the F-86-F in advanced gunnery training at Nellis AFB, Nevada in 1954. He was then assigned to the 322nd Fighter Day Group, 451st Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB, Texas, flying F-86-Fs in 1954/55. He served in various assignments as a jet fighter pilot and was Squadron Commander of the 522nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. In 1968, while stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam, he flew 184 combat missions in the F-100 Super Sabre. After graduation from Air War College in 1972 he was assigned to Headquarter, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Hawaii and served as PACAF Director Command Control. In 1973, while at PACAF, he was assigned temporarily to Clark Air Base, Philippines, and was the assistant operations officer for project Homecoming which conducted operations for the return of our prisoners of war from Vietnam. In 1976 he was transferred to the Unified Pacific Command as a Deputy Director of Operations. In 1978 Colonel Steinmiller served as the Defense / Air Attaché in the United States Embassy, Manila, Philippines until 1981 when he assumed duties as the Air Force Director of Attaché Affairs in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (with valor), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm. He was a command pilot with over 4,000 flying hours, mostly in single seat jet fighters. He was married to Joan Schroder of Hannibal Missouri in October 1954 and they have three sons, James Edward Steinmiller, Jr., John Leslie Steinmiller, and Jeffrey Allen Steinmiller.