Barksdale AFB in Bossier Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
Major General Lewis Elton Lyle
United States Air Force
He flew over 76 combat missions, all as lead pilot, including the most devastating mission to Berlin on 3 February 1945. On 17 August 1943 on the first raid to Schweinfurt, Germany he became the first pilot to complete 30 missions.
Post war, General Lyle was director, USAF human resources research institute, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. During the Cold War, he served as Chief of Staff 5th Air Division in French Morocco and as Director, Plans Division, at headquarters, Strategic Air Command, Omaha, Nebraska. Other command assignments included service as commanding officer, 4th Air Division at Barksdale AFB; Chief of Staff, 2nd Air Force; Commanding General 818th Air Division; Commander ICBM Division Warren AFB; and Director, Maintenance and Engineering, AF Logistics Command. He retired as a Major General with 7,052 flying hours as a command pilot and missileer.
After retirement, he was senior VP operations Northeast Airlines; manager Lyford Cay Properties, Bahamas; founder Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, Savannah, Georgia; member Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame; and has been active in community affairs in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
General Lyle's military awards include the Distinguished Service Cross; Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star with Two Clusters; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Clusters; Bronze Star; Air Medal with 9 Clusters; Presidential Unit Citation; British DFC; French Croix de Guerre.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Valor in Aerial Operations series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is February 3, 1945.
Location. 32° 30.701′ N, 93° 40.888′ W. Marker is in Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, in Bossier Parish. Memorial can be reached from Range Road, 0.1 miles north of Shreveport Road. Marker is on Barksdale AFB near the 8th Air Force Museum. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Barksdale AFB LA 71110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 34th Bomb Group Memorial (a few steps from this marker); "Hell's Angels" (a few steps from this marker); 486th Bombardment Group (H) (a few steps from this marker); 1999 Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award (a few steps from this marker); General Ira C. Eaker (a few steps from this marker); 344th Bomb Group (M) AAF (within shouting distance of this marker); The B-24 Flying Eightballs (within shouting distance of this marker); General Joseph J. Nazzaro (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barksdale AFB.
Also see . . . General Lewis Elton Lyle, Jr at FindAGrave.com. (Submitted on November 6, 2017, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2017, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 316 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2017, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.