Robert A. Breitweiser

SPARTANBURG, SC-- Robert A. Breitweiser, Lt. General, (USAF, Ret.), entered God’s nearer presence on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at his home. General Breitweiser resided with his wife, Dottie, at Summit Hills Retirement Community in Spartanburg. In addition to his wife, General Breitweiser is survived by his family and a host of friends.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in honor of General Breitweiser’s life at 2:00 PM on Monday, June 25, 2007, at St. Francis Anglican Church, 601 Webber Road, Spartanburg. Bishop Timothy B. Farmer will officiate. The family will receive friends following the Mass in the Church Parish Hall. Interment will be at 10:45 AM on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

General Breitweiser was born in St. Joseph, MO, and grew up in Denver, CO. Upon graduation from South Denver High School, he attended the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO, for two years. He was admitted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, by competitive appointment and graduated third in his class of 301.

After graduation from West Point, General Breitweiser completed Primary and Advanced Flying School at Randolph and Kelly Fields in Texas. He remained at the Advanced Flying School as an instructor until he was transferred to Maxwell Field, AL, as Training Group Operations Officer.

In August 1941, General Breitweiser opened and served as the First Commandant of the Contract Primary Flying School in Bennettsville, SC. He returned to Maxwell Field in February 1942 for duty with the Headquarters Southeast Training Center.

General Breitweiser was sent to the China-Burma-India Theatre in 1943 where he served with the Fourteenth Air Force and the 19th Composite Wing. Later he served as General Claire L. Chennault’s personal representative to General Albert C. Wedemeyer, the China Theatre commander. During his tour of duty in China, he flew 120 combat hours on 22 missions, accounting for numerous enemy trucks and river craft destroyed, plus one 6,000 ton freighter.

General Breitweiser returned to the United States in July 1945 and was appointed Deputy Chief, and later Chief, of Requirements and Resources Branch, Military Personnel of The Army Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Two years later, General Breitweiser was transferred to Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, as Assistant Executive Officer, 24th Composite Wing, and later served as Base Commander until June 1949.

General Breitweiser returned to Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, to attend the Air War College in 1949-1950. Upon graduation he became Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Management in Washington, D.C. He served in that position until November 1951 when he was appointed Vice Commander of the 34th Air Division (Defense), Kirtland Air Force Base, NM. In May 1952 General Breitweiser was transferred to Ent Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO, as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the Air Defense Command.

In July 1954 General Breitweiser was sent to the National War College. He graduated in 1955 and was assigned as Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Estimates, Directorate of Intelligence, Headquarters, USAF. He was named Chief of the Policy and Management Group in the Directorate in February 1956 and the following June became Deputy Director, and later Director, of Estimates.

In February 1957, General Breitweiser was appointed Director for Intelligence, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. In July 1961 he became assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Headquarters USAF.

General Breitweiser assumed command of the USAF Southern Command at Albrook Air Force Base in the Panama Canal Zone, September 1963. In August 1966 he returned to the United States to serve as Vice Commander of Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base, IL. He assumed the position of Commandant of the Air War College in February 1967.

In June 1967 General Breitweiser became Commander in Chief, Alaskan Command, and Commander Alaskan North American Air Defense Command Region with headquarters at Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK. The General retired in 1969 to New Bern, NC, after 31 years of active duty.

General Breitweiser was rated a Command Pilot having over 5000 flying hours. His awards and decorations include: Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, American Defense Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal 2/1 Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star, Distinguished Unit Emblem Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with one silver and two bronze Oak Leaf Clusters.

In addition, General Breitweiser received decorations from the governments of China, Argentina, Sweden, Bolivia, Chile, and Brazil.

General Breitweiser was preceded in death by his first wife, Eleanor Stevenson Breitweiser, and their son, William Stevenson Breitweiser.

General Breitweiser was a member of St. Francis Anglican Church. He was a life member of the Military Officers Association of America.

Memorials in honor of General Breitweiser may be sent to St. Francis Anglican Church, 601 Webber Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307.

Floyd’s North Church Street Chapel