The Utah Aviation Hall of Fame inducted the late Maj. Gen. William Creer as its 23rd honoree, during a ceremony May 25 at the Hill Aerospace Museum at Hill AFB, Utah. Creer, who died in 2004, was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot during World War II and later set a speed record in the B-47 Stratojet and flew the B-52 Stratofortress in the Vietnam War. He retired from the Air Force in 1968, having completed more than 9,000 flying hours. According to his official biography, among his numerous awards, he received three Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. (Hilltop Times report by Lee Anne Hensley)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.