John Charles Meyer (1919 - 1975)

Born 3 Apr 1919 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States

Husband of Mary Justina (Moore) Meyer — married 23 Mar 1945 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States

Died 2 Dec 1975 at age 56 in Marina Del Ray, Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kurt Potter [send private message]

Biography

John Meyer is Notable.

John Meyer was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States).

John Meyer was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

John Meyer was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

John Meyer was awarded the Legion of Merit.

John Meyer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

John Meyer was awarded the Purple Heart.

John Meyer was awarded the Air Medal.

John Meyer was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

John Charles Meyer was born in 1919 to parents August Henry Meyer and Dorothy Florence Gatehouse. In 1939, John left Dartmouth College to become an Aviation Cadet for the US Army Air Corps (USAAC). After World War II, he graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1945 at Floyd Bennett Field, New York, he married Mary Justine Moore. Via the 1950 US Census, John and Mary were the parents of at least three children: Peter Jones Meyer (1946-1966); M. Christine Meyer (b. abt. 1948); and John Charles Meyer Jr. (b. Jan 1950).

During World War II, Meyer advanced quickly through the ranks and was a one of the top famed USAACs flying aces of the European Theater, who was then credited with 24 confirmed aerial combat victories and the destruction of 13 aircraft on the ground, which made him the fourth leading American Ace in Europe. During the Korean War he added two more aerial combat victories to bring his total of aircraft destroyed to 39 and one half. Meyer was the only American Air Officer to earn three Distinguished Service Crosses, which is second in precedence to the Medal of Honor.

From 1969-1972 he served as the 12th Vice Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. From 1972-1974 he was the commander-in-chief of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), and the director of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. As commander of SAC he directed Operation Linebacker II, the "Christmas Bombing" of North Vietnam.

Meyer and retired from the US Air Force on 1 Jul 1974 with the rank of General (four stars). Gen. John Meyer died in 1975 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia along side his wife Mary.

Sources

• New York, New York, U.S., Birth Index, 1910-1965 via Ancestry.com SHOWS the birth of John C. "Meyers" born 3 Apr 1919 at Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. Certificate Number 16454.
• 1930 United States Federal Census for Queens, Queens, New York, USA SHOWS August H. Meyer born about 1892 in NY, married, his wife Dorothy Meyer at 39 years of age, and son John about 10 years of age. August's father born Germany, mother Born New York; August's occupation is stock broker; age at first marriage was 25 years. Dorothy's parents both born New York.
• New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018 SHOWS the marriage of John C Meyer and Mary J Moore on 23 Mar 1945 at Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. License Number 3704.
• California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997 via Ancestry.com SHOWS: John C Meyer born 3 Apr 1919 at New York, died 2 Dec 1975 at Los Angeles.
• Find A Grave Index for Gen. Meyer
• Wikipedia Page for Gen. Meyer
• U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 via Ancestry.com SHOWS: John Charles Meyer, Enlistment branch is AF, born 2 Apr 1919, died 2 Dec 1975, Enlisted on 27 Jul 1940, discharged 31 Jul 1974.
• Hall of Valor Project website shows the citations for his 15 (fifteen) individual medals for gallantry and valor.
• World At War (1973), BBC World War II documentary series, 26 episodes and extras in DVD box set, Vol. 11, Bonus Documentaries, Experiences of War, Bomber Escort Tactics, shows a 10 minute interview with Gen. John "Mayer"; they misspelled his last name.
• FamilySearch.org John Charles Meyer SHOWS virtually nothing, just one or two generations for he and his wife.
• National Aviation Hall of Fame website shows the award of 28 individual medals for gallantry and valor. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Silver Star with one oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with six oak leaf clusters, and Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters.
• 1950 US Census for Falls Church, Fairfax, Virginia