Ira Clarence Eaker received a degree from Southwestern State Teachers College, Oklahoma, in 1917. He studied law at Columbus University from 1924 to 1926, and received a degree in journalism in 1938. Called to active duty in mid-1917, he requested aviation duty and became a military aviator in September 1918; beginning an odyssey that was to see the name of Ira Eaker in the forefront of aviation for the next three decades. After duty in the Philippines and on the staff of the Chief of Air Service, he was selected as one of the pilots of the Pan American Goodwill Flight of 1926-27, becoming one of the first to be awarded the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross. Known as a pilot's pilot, Eaker was chosen as a primary crew member of the historic 1929 Army endurance flight of 150 hours aloft in the Fokker monoplane "Question Mark." Recognized as an officer of high command potential, Major Eaker was selected to attend the elite Air Corps Tactical School in 1936 and the War College in 1937. In this same year, he made the first transcontinental flight entirely on instruments. With Gen H.H. Arnold, he co-authored the first of his books, "This Flying Game." In 1941, Col Eaker, while commander of the 20th Pursuit Group, and published two additional books, "Winged Warfare" and "Army Flyer." In January 1942 Eaker was assigned the task of organizing the 8th Air Force Bomber Command, which was to be the backbone of U.S. airpower in the European theater. In August of that same year he personally led the first strike on continental Europe, continuing to lead the 8th Air Force until January 1944 when he was assigned to command all Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean arena. In the post war years he served as deputy commander of the Army Air Forces and was a principal architect of the new separate air arm, the United States Air Force. Retired from active duty in 1947, he joined Douglas Aircraft as vice president until 1961, continuing to be an advisor and author on U.S. air power affairs.
Inducted in 1981.
Portrait Location: Not Currently on Floor