Elvin S Ligon

Military
Two airmen of the 466th Bomb Group. media-380765.jpg FRE 1959 MGEN William B. Kepner (Left) - Commander of the 2nd Air Division - 8th AF COL Elvin S. Ligon - Commander of the 466th BG - 2nd Air Division - 8th AF Photo taken on the occasion of the 466th BG's 200th mission party. Roger Freeman Collection

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Object Number - FRE 1959 - MGEN William B. Kepner (Left) - Commander of the 2nd Air Division - 8th AF COL Elvin S. Ligon - Commander of the 466th BG - 2nd Air Division - 8th AF...

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Events

Event Location Date Description

Based

17 December 1944 - 25 April 1945 Commander of 466th BG 17 December 1944 through 25 April 1945

Other

Retired from USAF

1 June 1965 MAJOR GENERAL ELVIN S. LIGON Retired June 01,1965 Died November 19,1975 Share on facebook 0 More Sharing Services 0 Share on twitter 0 PRINT | E-MAIL DOWNLOAD HI-RES Elvin Seth Ligon Jr., was born in Fork Union, Va., in 1911, son of a school teacher and later principal of Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fla. After graduating from Blackstone Military Academy, Va., and attending the University of Richmond for three years, he entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1930. Graduated a second lieutenant in June 1934, he entered primary flying school at Randolph Field, Texas and, a year later graduated from the advanced flying school at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. Second Lieutenant Ligon's first assignment was at March Field, Calif., where he held duties until 1938 as assistant squadron operations officer, flight commander, squadron assistant navigation officer and airplane commander. Then followed five and one-half years of assignments to Air Corps technical training installations, including Chanute where he completed the Maintenance Engineer Course, Scott, Sheppard, Tulsa, Greensboro and St. Louis. Assigned to command the 466th Bomb Group (Heavy), B-24's in the Eighth Air Force located at Attlebridge, England, General Ligon's group was deployed intact to the United States in June 1945 to be re-equipped with B-29s and moved to the Pacific. The group was at Sioux Falls, S.D., on V-J Day. After duty as deputy base commander at Buckley Field, Denver, Colo., in September 1945, General Ligon attended the first Command Course at Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., moving to the Technical Training Headquarters at Scott Field, Ill., in February 1946. He was assigned as an observer to the "Baker" test at Bikini, then as a student in the Air War College in June 1946. After graduating a year later he remained at the War College as an instructor until November 1947 when he was reassigned to the Alaskan Command and Alaskan Air Command Staff. Returning to the United States in August 1949, General Ligon was assigned to the staff of the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., serving as a special project officer, director, academic staff, and special assistant to the commandant, respectively. Going to the National War College in August 1952, Ligon graduated a year later. After a short tour with the Security Service he joined the Director of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff/Operations, U.S. Air Force, and in December 1955 became deputy director of personnel planning, becoming director on Sept. 10, 1956. He assumed command of the 3500th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, July 1951, remaining in that position until July 1959 when he was assigned as director of personnel planning, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. In August 1961, he was appointed chief of staff, Chief Military Planning Staff, CENTO, Ankara, Turkey, and in July 1963, assumed his present position as chief of staff, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Naples, Italy. His decorations include Commendation Ribbon; Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal with oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Unit Insignia and Croix de Guerre with palm from French Government.  

Died

19 November 1975

Buried

25 November 1975 Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA Plot: Section 11 Site 197-1

Born

Other

Graduated United States Military Academy

Other

Commander

3500th U.S. Air Force Recruiting Wing

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed extra info in the "Role/job" field.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - 4 March 1945 mission formation plan

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Elvin S Ligon: Gallery (6 items)