WAS FIRST 100TH COMMANDING OFFICER; LATER COMMANDED A B-24 GROUP
AND WAS A POW. IN A BIT OF IRONY HE WAS THE SENIOR POW OFFICER AT STALAG LUFT
III WHERE A GREAT MANY OF THE 100TH AIRMEN WERE SENT.
BRIGADIER GENERAL DARR H. ALKIRE
Retired Oct. 31, 1956.
Died Aug. 1, 1977.
Darr Hayes Alkire was born in Fay, Nev. He graduated from high
school at Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1913, and attended the University of Utah for
two years.
Appointed a flying cadet March 10, 1924, General Alkire entered Primary Flying
School at Brooks Field, Texas, graduated from Advanced Flying School at Kelly
Field, Texas, March 14, 1925, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the
Air Reserve. Receiving his regular commission as a second lieutenant of Air
Corps June 30, 1926, he was assigned with the Sixth Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler
Field, Hawaii. In April 1930 he became a flying instructor at the Flying School
at March Field, Calif., and in October 1931 moved in that capacity to the Flying
School at Randolph Field, Texas.
Assuming command of the 96th Bomb Squadron at Langley Field, Va., in June 1937,
in January 1942 General Alkire assumed command of the Second Bomb Group there,
and that November he was appointed commanding officer of the 100th Bomb Group at
Kearney, Neb. Moving to Biggs Field, Texas in May 1943 he was air inspector of
the 16th Bomb Wing, and the following month was moved chief of staff of the
First Bomber Command there.
Going to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations that November, General Alkire
assumed command of the 449th Bomb Group (B-24). Shot down and captured Jan. 31,
1944, he was released from prisoner-of-war camp in April 1945, and returned to
the United States. That September he was named deputy for supply of the
Sacramento Air Technical Service Command at McClellan Field, Calif. He went to
Tokyo, Japan as deputy chief of staff for materiel of the Far East Air Forces in
July 1948.
Four years later General Alkire was appointed commanding general of the Newark
Transportation Control Depot, N.J. On Dec. 1, 1954 he assumed command of the
3101st U.S. Air Force Logistic Control Group at Brooklyn Army Base, N.Y., with
additional duty as commanding general of the Newark Transportation Control
Depot.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and Air
Medal with oak leaf cluster. He is rated a command pilot.
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
He was promoted to first lieutenant (permanent) Aug. 1, 1932; to captain
(permanent) June 30, 1946; to major (temporary) Feb 3, 1948, to lieutenant
colonel (temporary) Jan 1942.
