Dewitt Richard Searles, MGen. USAF (Ret)

dewitt searles, mgen. usaf (ret)
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

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