Sykes, George Kunkel

Date of birth:: March 24th, 1921 (Philadelphia/Pennsylvania, United States)
Date of death:: August 14th, 2005 (San Antonio/Texas, United States)
Buried on:: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Plot: CI. Grave: 3.
Service number:: 0-25487
Nationality:: American

Biography

In 1938 and 1939, George Sykes attended Pennsylvania State University. He then completed a four-year course at the Westpoint Military Academy in New York State, graduating in January 1943 as a Second Lieutenant.

From January 19 to April 1943 he followed advanced pilot training in Columbus, Mississippi. On December 12, 1943, he was granted leave before being deployed overseas.
In January 1944 he was transferred to England where he was assigned to the 479FG/435thFS.

On September 17, 1944 George Sykes was shot down by German flak but survived and managed to return to liberated territory in October 1944.
In 1946, George Sykes returned to the United States to serve on the Office of the Assistant to the Intelligence Staff at U.S. Headquarters. Army Air Forces (USAAF) in Washington D.C.

During the Korean War (June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953), Sykes was stationed in August 1950 at Headquarters Strategic Air Command (SAC), located at Offutt Air Base in Nebraska. Here George Sykes was assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, a forward advanced echelon (ADVON), which was stationed at Japanese airbase Misawa near Tokyo. Here Sykes flew on the F-84G Thunderjet.

His next deployment was in February 1953 at Turner Air Base, Georgia, where he was initially assigned as deputy commander and later commander of the 40th Air Division.
In May 1955, George Sykes became planning officer of the Joint U.S. Air Force group. military mission for aid to Turkey.

In 1957, George Sykes became the very last commander of the B-25 Mitchell bomber pilot training at Goodfellow Air Base in Texas. From here he was transferred in November 1958 to Maxwell Air Base, near Montgomery in Alabama. Here he became assistant executive officer of operations and later executive officer of operations of the 3894th Training Group.

From 1959 he followed further training at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama, USA where he successfully graduated in June 1960. After this he was again stationed with the intelligence service in Washington D.C.; initially at US headquarters. Air Force, but later with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
In June 1963, he posted to Langley Air Base, Virginia, where he was assigned as Vice Commander for Intelligence at Headquarters Tactical Air Command (TAC).
In March 1966, he was posted to the US as assistant second-in-command for intelligence. Air Forces Europe (USAFE).

In June 1969, because of the Vietnam War, he was transferred to South Vietnam as second-in-command for intelligence of the 7th Air Force, where he served at the South Vietnamese airbase Tan Son Nhut.
For his service between 1968 and 1972, including eighteen months in Vietnam, during which he distinguished himself as Second-in-command of the General Staff of the 7th Air Force, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM).

In 1972, Sykes left the United States Air Force at the rank of brigadier general.

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Distinguished Service Medal - Air Force

Period:: Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Rank:: Brigadier General

AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Air Force
Division: 7th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS:
United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

CITATION:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Brigadier General George Kunkel Sykes, United States Air Force, was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Deputy Chief of Staff, SEVENTH Air Force, from 1968 to 1972. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Sykes culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.