Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Thomas
Sarsfield
Power
1905

–

December 6, 1970

Born:

New York

, 

New York

Home:

Long Island

, 

New York

Buried: 

Arlington

, 

Virginia

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

Thomas Power led and directed the first large-scale fire bomb raid on Tokyo, Japan, on March 9, 1945. After serving in the Army Air Forces in World War II, he transferred to the U.S. Air Force when it became a separate branch of service in 1947. He retired in 1964 as a U.S. Air Force 4-Star General.

Awards Received

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    General

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: General Thomas Sarsfield Power (ASN: 0-17854), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Power and his dedicated contributions in the Service of his Country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    General

    Action Date:

    July 1, 1957 – November 30, 1964
    Department of the Air Force, General Orders No. GB346 (1964)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (Army Design) to General Thomas Sarsfield Power (ASN: 0-17854), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, from 1 July 1957 to 30 November 1964. During these years General Power’s outstanding command ability and professional knowledge have contributed significantly to developing and maintaining our nation’s deterrent forces. In a time of revolutionary change in military weapons systems, he directed the introduction of operational missiles to a high state of readiness despite stringent schedules, thereby providing a significant addition to our deterrent force. His inspiring leadership, resoluteness and exceptional managerial ability in building and maintaining a superb world-wide strategic organization have contributed immeasurably toward promoting the security and prestige of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Power 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.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Action Date:

    September 2 – November 21, 1945

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Brigadier General Thomas Sarsfield Power (ASN: 0-17854), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 2 September 1945 to 21 November 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Power and his dedicated contributions in the Service of his Country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Colonel (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    304th Bombardment Wing

    Division:

    15th Air Force

    Action Date:

    April 13, 1944
    Headquarters, 304th Bombardment Wing, General Orders No. 2329 (August 5, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Colonel (Air Corps) Thomas Sarsfield Power (ASN: 0-17854), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a B-24 type aircraft of the 304th Bombardment Wing, FIFTEENTH Air Force. On 13 April 1944, Colonel Power led a wing formation on a bombing mission against vital enemy installations in Hungary. Through superior coordination and maintenance of strict flight discipline, despite heavy enemy opposition from fighter and anti-aircraft fire, he skillfully brought the entire formation directly to the target without assistance from fighter escort. A highly successful bombing run was accomplished and under his superior leadership, the bombs from his entire formation were concentrated in the immediate target area, inflicting grave damage to vital enemy installations and destroying forty-four enemy aircraft on the ground and seriously damaging thirteen others. Turning from the target, he quickly rallied his formation, and, despite continued aggressive enemy fighter attacks and accurate anti-aircraft fire, brought his formation through to the base with a minimum of losses. By his extraordinary achievement, professional skill and superior leadership, Colonel Power has reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Regiment:

    314th Bomb Wing (VH)

    Division:

    20th Air Force

    Action Date:

    March 9, 1945
    Headquarters, XXI Bomber Command, General Orders (March 14, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Brigadier General Thomas Sarsfield Power (ASN: 0-17854), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as Commander of the 314th Bomb Wing (Very Heavy), TWENTIETH Air Force, on 9 March 1945, while participating in the greatest mass flight of B-29 aircraft ever dispatched against a single target. The historical very long range low altitude attack was a carefully planned and superbly executed incendiary mission launched from bases in the Mariana Islands against urban Tokyo. Three hundred B-29 aircraft dropped the greatest load of bombs ever carried over such a vast distance. With exceptional precision and with devastating effect, plane after plane released its bomb load with efficiency, thoroughness and intrepidity that left transportation and communication facilities, plants and installations a mass of blazing wreckage. By this bold stroke the enemy suffered a crushing blow, resulting in the complete destruction of 15 square miles of Japan’s capitol city and the devastation of large industrial targets. During the attack General Power circled the target for one and one-half hours charting fires resulting from the incessant bombing, observing the effect of the entire mission upon the target and obtaining vital information for the planning of future operations. His bravery, skill, efficiency and scorn for personal safety in the face of anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters and his courageous leadership and careful preparation of his own bombardment wing for this successful mission reflects the highest credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces.

  • Army Distinguished Service Medal

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Brigadier General

    Action Date:

    September 1944 – July 1945
    War Department, General Orders No. 110 (November 27, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Thomas Sarsfield Power (ASN: 0-17854), United States Army Air Forces, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility as Commander of the 314th Bomb Wing (Very Heavy) in the Pacific Theater of Operations from September 1944 to July 1945. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of General Power and his dedicated contributions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.