Gordon M. Graham, 90; Ace Fighter Pilot Flew In WWII, Korea, Vietnam

Gordon M. Graham, 90, a retired Air Force lieutenant general who destroyed more than 16 enemy aircraft in World War II to become a triple ace, died of a stroke March 22 at his home in Irvington in Virginia's Northern Neck.

Gen. Graham logged 9,200 hours in 78 types of aircraft, including 73 combat missions in P-51D Mustang fighters in Europe and 146 combat missions in Southeast Asia.

He first went overseas in 1944 and was credited with 16 1/2 kills, one probable and 10 damaged enemy aircraft.

His last assignment before retiring in 1973 was as commander of the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force in Izmir, Turkey, responsible for NATO air forces from the United States, Greece and Turkey.

After he left the military, he worked for McDonnell Douglas Corp. as president of its Tokyo office.

In 1978, he returned to Washington, where he was the firm's corporate vice president until 1983, when he retired.

He was born in Ouray, Colo., and moved with his family to Taft, Calif., as a child. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley.

He served in World War II as commander of the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force at Steeple Morden, England. He was credited with more than 1,000 combat hours in fighters from World War II through the Korean and Vietnam wars.

He received a master's degree in petroleum engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1948. He then became the Air Force industrial mobilization training consultant to the Union Oil Co. of California and the Shell Oil Co.

In addition to his flight positions, he served as chief of strategic target analysis for the Korean War and led the first nonstop transatlantic deployment of F-100 fighters.

As commander of the Fifth Air Force and U.S. Forces Japan, Gen. Graham was instrumental in the planning and signing of the Okinawa reversion treaty.

Among his military awards were the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Cross honors and 28 Air Medal decorations.

After retiring from McDonnell Douglas, he moved to the Northern Neck, where he volunteered for the local rescue squad and animal welfare league.

He also wrote his autobiography, "Down for Double: Anecdotes of a Fighter Pilot" (1996).

His marriage to Dorothy Huntingdon Graham ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Vivian Fox Graham; three children from his first marriage, Eloise Graham Brooks of McLean, Helen Huntingdon Stubbs of Merritt Island, Fla., and Gordon Alexander Elting Graham of Gig Harbor, Wash.; two stepsons, Robert Earl Fairbairn of Williamsburg and Donald Boyce Fairbairn of Darnestown; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

-- Patricia Sullivan