William Francis Georgi (1921 - 2011)

Biography

William F. Georgi (No.12052536) enlisted January 19, 1921at Mitchell Field, Hempstead, Long Island, NY. He received a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Denver 1950, and a master's degree in Political Science from The George Washington University, 1964. During World War II, Georgi entered the Aviation Cadet Program and graduated in October 1942 with a commission as Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He next served as a B-17 pilot with the 383d Bombardment Group and in June, 1943, he went to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and flew 52 combat missions in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Europe.

Georgi returned to active duty in April 1951 and served in the Korean War and became commander of the 9th and later the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadrons of the 49th Fighter Bomber Group. He flew 148 combat missions in F-84 aircraft.

In March of 1953 Georgi was assigned to the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing at Dow Air Force Base, Maine, and later was commander of the 458th Strategic Fighter Squadron. In December 1955 he was transferred to Headquarters Air Research and Development Command, Baltimore, Md., where he served as Chief of the Systems Planning Branch. He moved with ARDC to Andrews Air Force Base and became Chief of the Tactical Systems Division.

In November 1959 General Georgi went to England where the Air Force at South Ruislip; and in June 1961 became Commander of the attended the United Kingdom Joint Services Staff College; in May 1960 he became Director of the Flight Safety Division of the Third Air 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge. He returned to the United States in July 1963 to attend the Air War College, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. He was assigned to Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va., in August 1964 as Chief of the Fighter and Reconnaissance Division in the Directorate of Operations. During 1965 he served on temporary duty in the Republic of Vietnam as Deputy Commander of Project Skoshi Tiger, a test of the F-5 fighter aircraft in Vietnam. He flew 162 in- and out-country missions.

General Georgi returned to Langley Air Force Base in May 1966 to become Deputy Director of requirements in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operation, and in August of 1967 he entered the Department of State Senior Seminar in Foreign Policy. Upon completion of this ten-month seminar, General Georgi was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as Chief of the Europe-NATO Branch in the Directorate of Plans and Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations.

General Georgi went to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in August 1970 as Vice Commander of the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing becoming Commander of the Wing in March of 1971. In February 1973 he assumed duties as Commander of the 86th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ramstein Air Base. In May 1973 General Georgi joined the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Chief, International Negotiations Division, and later became Deputy Director, International Negotiations in the Plans and Policy Directorate.

His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 20 oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was a command pilot with more then 6,000 flying hours.

He was promoted to the grade of Brigadier General effective May 1, 1972, with date of rank April 25, 1972. (It would have been easier to record anything Brig. Gen. Gorgi didn't accomplish! Brig. Gen. Georgi died September 11 of 2011 in Melbourne, Florida. Information was not found concerning his place of rest.

Sources

https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107024/brigadier-general-william-f-georgi/

https://www.fold3.com/search?keywords=william+georgi

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193329134/william-f-georgi

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GZGK-LV6