GENERAL IRA C. EAKER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/18/1965 - HFSID 254385

IRA C. EAKER
Air Force Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker signed this typed letter in 1965 to say that he wouldn't be able to meet the recipient in Washington, D. C., due to his flying to a function with General Curtis LeMay.
Typed Letter signed: "Ira C Eaker". 1 page, 8½x11, on his personalized stationery. Jan. 18, 1965. Addressed to Mr. Henry A. Manson, St. Louis, Missouri. In full: "Dear Mr. Manson: I leave at 2:45 p.m. on January 25th to fly with General LeMay for a dinner given in his honor at Omaha that evening. I go according to present plan on the 26th to the West Coast for a few days. It looks like therefore I may regretfully miss you on your trip to Washington. My secretary, Mrs. Younger, will however be in my office at 1612 K Street, and will I am sure be glad to show your through the office and point out some of the few souvenirs of an earlier time and experience. I am glad for your Christmas gift, 'History of the Army Air Forces in World War II,' has been found interesting and worthwhile by you. I have the set but I am sorry to say have never found the time to go through it as yet. I am now reading 'A Concise History of World War II,' a copy of which you will see on my desk. Mrs. Younger will give you a copy of two of my recent weekly columns about General LeMay, which may be of interest to you. With every good wish to you and yours for the New Year. Sincerely, Ira C. Eaker Lt. Gen. USAF (Ret.)". EAKER (1896-1987) made the first transcontinental flight purely on instruments (1936). During WWII, he personally led the first U. S. B-17 bomber strike against German occupation forces in France, the bombing of Rouen, Aug. 17, 1942. In June 1944, after being transferred to the Mediterranean, he flew the first bombing raid from Italy into Germany, landing in the Soviet Union after striking factory and oil installations and other military targets. In 1944, he was named Commander of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces. In 1970, Eaker was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Folds and creases (not near signature). Lightly soiled at bottom right corner. Light tears in left edge and in right edge along top fold. Light dent in right edge. Otherwise in fine condition.