Dewitt Richard Searles, MGen. USAF (Ret)
August 7, 1920 ~ February 27, 2021
DeWITT RICHARD SEARLES
(Age 100)
DeWitt Richard Searles, a retired USAF Major General and fighter pilot in World War II and
Vietnam, passed away at his home in Virginia on Saturday, February 27 at the age of 100. He
was attended by all of his children. His beloved wife of 70 years, Barbara, pre-deceased him in
2019.
Dick was born in Birmingham, Alabama to DeWitt Richard Searles Sr. and Miriam Hostetler.
He was just 2 when his father died. Dick was later enrolled as a student cadet at The Bolles
School, then a boys’ military academy in Jacksonville, Florida, where he graduated in 1939. He
attended the College of William and Mary until he entered aviation cadet training, graduating as
a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943. He served two years in the Southwest Pacific theatre in World War II,
flying 269 combat missions in the P-47 and P-51. Of the two aircraft, he thought the P-47 was
the superior all-around fighter for the missions he was assigned. He scored three aerial victories
though enemy aircraft were scarce. Most missions were gunnery and bombing.
After the war he graduated from the Army Command and General Staff School, then went on to
receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, choosing to major in journalism.
That choice led him to become Chief of the Air Force Press Desk at the Pentagon and later,
Chief of Information Services for the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin Air Force Base,
Florida. Longing to return to flying and to command, he entered the Air Command and Staff
College, and upon graduation transitioned to jet fighters, the F-80, F-86, and F-100. Again
assigned to the far east theater, he led the Pacific fighter weapons team to a third-place finish
against world-wide U S. Air Force competition. A Pentagon assignment thereafter won him
appointment to the National War College. At graduation he had also earned a master’s degree in
international relations from George Washington University. Upon assignment to Europe, he was
proud to serve with then-colonels Robin Olds and Chappie James in the 81st Tactical Fighter
Wing at RAF Bentwaters, England. Later as the wing’s commander, he flew the first F-4 into
England in 1965 to transition that wing from the F-100 and F-101 to that aircraft. The
assignment in England won him his first star, after which he served in Southeast Asia as
simultaneous deputy commander of both the 7th Air Force and 13th Air Force. His last
assignment was as deputy Air Force Inspector General. He retired from the Air Force in 1974
after 32 years of service. He began a new career with Merrill Lynch in Northern Virginia, rising
from account executive to Assistant Vice President by the time of his second retirement in 1987.
The family will hold graveside services later in the year at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu
of flowers and visits, you are welcome to donate to the DeWitt R. Searles ’39 Endowed Fund at
The Bolles School, 7400 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32217
(Age 100)
DeWitt Richard Searles, a retired USAF Major General and fighter pilot in World War II and
Vietnam, passed away at his home in Virginia on Saturday, February 27 at the age of 100. He
was attended by all of his children. His beloved wife of 70 years, Barbara, pre-deceased him in
2019.
Dick was born in Birmingham, Alabama to DeWitt Richard Searles Sr. and Miriam Hostetler.
He was just 2 when his father died. Dick was later enrolled as a student cadet at The Bolles
School, then a boys’ military academy in Jacksonville, Florida, where he graduated in 1939. He
attended the College of William and Mary until he entered aviation cadet training, graduating as
a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943. He served two years in the Southwest Pacific theatre in World War II,
flying 269 combat missions in the P-47 and P-51. Of the two aircraft, he thought the P-47 was
the superior all-around fighter for the missions he was assigned. He scored three aerial victories
though enemy aircraft were scarce. Most missions were gunnery and bombing.
After the war he graduated from the Army Command and General Staff School, then went on to
receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, choosing to major in journalism.
That choice led him to become Chief of the Air Force Press Desk at the Pentagon and later,
Chief of Information Services for the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin Air Force Base,
Florida. Longing to return to flying and to command, he entered the Air Command and Staff
College, and upon graduation transitioned to jet fighters, the F-80, F-86, and F-100. Again
assigned to the far east theater, he led the Pacific fighter weapons team to a third-place finish
against world-wide U S. Air Force competition. A Pentagon assignment thereafter won him
appointment to the National War College. At graduation he had also earned a master’s degree in
international relations from George Washington University. Upon assignment to Europe, he was
proud to serve with then-colonels Robin Olds and Chappie James in the 81st Tactical Fighter
Wing at RAF Bentwaters, England. Later as the wing’s commander, he flew the first F-4 into
England in 1965 to transition that wing from the F-100 and F-101 to that aircraft. The
assignment in England won him his first star, after which he served in Southeast Asia as
simultaneous deputy commander of both the 7th Air Force and 13th Air Force. His last
assignment was as deputy Air Force Inspector General. He retired from the Air Force in 1974
after 32 years of service. He began a new career with Merrill Lynch in Northern Virginia, rising
from account executive to Assistant Vice President by the time of his second retirement in 1987.
The family will hold graveside services later in the year at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu
of flowers and visits, you are welcome to donate to the DeWitt R. Searles ’39 Endowed Fund at
The Bolles School, 7400 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32217
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