John E. Pitts, Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John E. Pitts, Jr.
1924-1977
Place of birth	Auburn, Alabama
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1943-77
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	Air Force Officer Training School International Staff, Inter-American Defense Board
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (3) Air Force Commendation Medal (2)

John Emmett Pitts, Jr. (November 7, 1924 - August 9, 1977) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force and was director of the International Staff of the Inter-American Defense Board.

Pitts was born in Auburn, Alabama and attended Auburn High School and The Citadel. While at The Citadel, he was called to active duty for service in World War II. Two months after entering the service, he was appointed a cadet at the United States Military Academy. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in 1946.

In 1951, Pitts served with the 136th Tactical Fighter Group in the Korean War, flying 100 missions in the F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bomber aircraft and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster. In 1952, he was a flight commander of the first mass flight of tactical fighter aircraft across the Pacific Ocean.

Pitts attended the Armed Forces Staff College in 1960 and the Army War College in 1966. In 1967, he began his service in the Vietnam War serving as director of the Air Force Third Corps Direct Air Support Center at Bien Hoa Air Base. From 1968 through 1971, Pitts served as deputy commandant of cadets for military instruction at the Air Force Academy. Later, he became commander of the Air Force Officer Training School, and, in 1972, vice commander of the Lackland Air Force Base.

In 1974, Pitts became director of the International Staff of the Inter-American Defense Board, a position at which he served the remainder of his career. Pitts died on August 9, 1977.