Why is that road called "O'Malley" Street? Published May 1, 2013 By Jim O'Connell 92 Air Refueling Wing Historian FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- O'Malley Street is named after Gen. Jerome F. O'Malley who many considered the Gen. to be a likely candidate to become the Air Force Chief of Staff. He was in command of Tactical Air Command when he and his wife died in an aircraft accident on April 20, 1985. They and three Airmen died when a twin-engine CT-39 Sabreliner experienced brake failure and crashed off the end of the runway at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport. While the accident cut short the life of an incredible leader, Gen. O'Malley left quite a legacy. Gen. O'Malley was born on February 25, 1932 in the coal mining community of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. He had a remarkable ability to listen and learn from others and showed a genuine interest in everyone with whom he was associated. O'Malley was a natural leader whether racing soap box derby cars or leading his high school basketball team to the league championship. This was demonstrated when his sophomore algebra teacher was injured, unable to teach and there were no substitute available. Shortly after the class was supposed to start, O'Malley went to the front of the class and took over asking students to work the previously assigned problems on the chalkboard. The principal was very surprised and pleased to see that the class had covered most of the assigned lesson for the day. O'Malley effectively managed the class for several weeks until the teacher returned to work. Gen. O'Malley's natural optimism and external confidence carried him through the rest of his incredible career. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1953 with a commission in the United States Air Force. He earned his pilot wings in 1954 at Bryan Air Force Base, Texas, and trained in the F-86 Sabrejet at Perrin Air Force Base, Texas. Gen. O'Malley's early assignments included a tour as an air training officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy, then located at Lowry AFB, Colorado; B-47 transition training at McConnell AFB, Kansas; B-47 pilot with the 529th Bombardment Squadron at Plattsburgh AFB, New York; and an aide to Gen. Hunter Harris, the 8th Air Force commander at Westover AFB. Following Air Command and Staff College, Gen. O'Malley was assigned to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California. He made aviation history on March 21, 1968 when he flew the first operational mission of the SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance plane deep into North Vietnamese airspace to identify enemy radar signals and to photograph enemy missile sites. The plane flew sixteen miles above the earth, at more than 2,000 miles per hour. This mission was recorded at mach 3.17. After his graduation from Naval War College in 1969, because of his strong record and solid reputation, Gen. O'Malley was assigned as the Director of Operations for the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho and flew RC-4Cs. He was then assigned as vice commander and then commander of the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam and was later assigned as vice commander of the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand. Gen. O'Malley flew 116 combat missions in F-4Ds and RF-4Cs. After his service in Vietnam, Gen. O'Malley's career advanced rapidly. He commanded the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Beale AFB, California and the 22nd Bombardment Wing, March AFB, California. Gen. O'Malley served on a variety of staff tours to include 15th Air Force, Strategic Air Command, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and at the USAF Headquarters. In 1982, O'Malley was nominated as the youngest four-star general in Air Force history and was appointed Vice Chief of Staff. In 1983, O'Malley assumed command of the Pacific Air Forces. On his final stop, he assumed command of Tactical Air Command in 1984 putting him in charge of all U.S. fighter planes, as well as the Air Force Thunderbirds, and over 116,000 military and civilian personnel. When visiting subordinate commanders he always stressed the importance of taking care of "our people--with emphasis always on the dignity of the individual." He told his staff in an early meeting, "You have three priorities, (1) to yourself, (2) to your family, and (3) to the Air Force. Unless you have the first two in order, the third one can't be." Gen. O'Malley served throughout the most of the Cold War and was active in many of the key weapon systems that were fielded to reinforce the policy of containment and deterrence. His service on the numerous staffs solidified his belief that the security of the United States would be best served by cooperation among the services. In the end, Gen. O'Malley's natural leadership and willingness to take on the hardest tasks highlighted some key lessons for future generation. A top leader should go to the action and not be content to remain in the comfort zone of a job they had mastered. And, the broadly gauged leader must be flexible and in all aspects of military conflict. Gen. O'Malley is still remembered for his and his wife's community support activities and their care for military families with the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome O'Malley Award. It is given to the commander who sets best example for fostering strong family life in the Air Force each year.
