GENERAL IRA C. EAKER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/09/1977 - HFSID 158402

IRA C. EAKER
Air Force Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker signed this typed letter in 1977 to say that he was too busy to write a book.
Typed Letter signed: "Ira C Eaker". Blue ink notations on verso in unknown hand. 2 pages, 7¼x10¼, single-sided sheets, on his personalized stationery. June 9, 1977. Addressed to Mr. Edward Bombsey, Annandale, Virginia. In full: "Dear Mr. Bombsey: Thanks very much for your kindly letter, received yesterday. Enclosed is my autograph on the S. 425. I saw Senator Goldwater yesterday and had an opportunity again to express my deep appreciation for introducing this bill in the Senate. Regarding your question about my writing a book. Otherwise have asked me the same question and my reply, thus far, is that I am so concerned and pre-occupied with present events, concerning the national security, that I am spending all my time trying to explain these issues to our people. In this connection, I have been doing a weekly syndicated column since 1962, and during that time have missed but one week, when I was in the hospital. These columns appear in the Army, Navy and Air Force Times, and in some forty for fifty other papers, including the Stars and Stripes. In addition, I make frequent talks to the service schools. Only last Monday I gave a talk to the Squadron Officers School, which was the twenty-seventh consecutive talk I have made at that school. On April 14th, I made a talk to the Armed Forces Industrial College, a copy of which is enclosed, hoping it will be of interest. With deep appreciation and every good wish, 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. Fine condition.