Ira Eaker
Born in Llano, Texas, on April 13th, 1896. He attended Southeastern State Teachers College in Oklahoma before joining the United States Army. Ira was originally an infantry officer before he learned to fly and joined the United States Air Service. In 1929 Ira Eaker and his co-pilot Carl Spaatz, set a new endurance record after flying more than 150 hours aloft.
In 1936 Eaker made the first flight across America navigating solely by instruments.
Promoted to Brigadier General in January 1942, he was appointed head of 8th Bomber Command under Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz. He arrived in England on February 20th where he set up US Army Bomber Command at High Wycombe.
In February 1943 Eaker took over as head of the US Air Force in Algiers, he was a strong advocate of daylight bombing raids. At a meeting at Casablanca, Eaker and John Slessor, persuaded Winston Churchill to adopt a new strategy that became known as the Eaker Plan. It was agreed to launch a 24 hour bombing attack on Nazi Germany. Whereas the USFA would concentrate on daylight bombing the RAF would continue night bombing.
Eaker was promoted to lieutenant general in September 1943 and was placed in charge of the USFA in Britain. He helped Carl Spaatz plan Operation Overlord before becoming head of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces.
In 1947 Eaker was deputy commander of the United States Air Force. After retiring in august 1947, Eaker was Vice president of Hughes Tool Corporation (1947-57) and head of Douglas Aircraft (1957-61). Ira Eaker died on August 6th 1987.
SW