Kenneth R. Powell

Kenneth R. Powell (1915 – September 16, 1987) was a United States Air Force general.

During Pearl Harbor, Lieutenant Powell was a flight leader assigned to the United States Army Air Corps, 78th Pursuit Squadron at Wheeler Field in Hawaii. On December 7, during the Japanese attack, all of his unit’s aircraft were either damaged or destroyed. No pilots from his squadron were able to go airborne and retaliate.

In 1959, Colonel Powell received the Legion of Merit. The citation stated in part: “Colonel Powell demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, diplomacy and statesmanship in establishing and directing an exceptional program of international friendship and understanding with the populace of the Federal German Republic and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. His efforts have greatly enhanced the prestige and good will of the United States in this most important area.”

Between July 1955 and July 1959, Colonel Powell commanded the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. While in Germany, he was awarded the Honor Shield of the German State of Rhineland-Pfalz for his work promoting German-American relations. Powell was the first American military commander to receive the Honor Shield. The grand duchess of Luxembourg awarded Colonel Powell the Officer’s Cross in the Order of LA Couronne de Chene, the country’s highest decoration for foreign officers.

Between 1947 and 1949, Colonel Powell was the commander of the Air Force Public Relations School, where he organized and supervised the Comptroller Course for the Air Force Special Staff School located at Craig Field in Alabama. From 1949 to 1951 Powell was the deputy commandant of the Armed Forces Information School in New York. In 1951 he was assigned as Chief of the Airmen’s Assignment Division in the Directorate of Military Personnel at U.S. Air Force headquarters.

On the Morning of February 26, 1945, the elements of the 21st Fighter Group were attacked by Imperial Japanese Army soldiers on the ground. Fighting alongside a contingent of U.S. Marines, the airmen killed 250 Japanese soldiers in tent-to-tent fighting, with fourteen 21st Fighter Group airmen killed and 50 wounded, including Colonel Powell. He was evacuated to a military hospital on Guam. He returned to his post as soon as he recovered from his injuries. After returning, he participated in several escort missions over Japan. His wing was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their escort work of land-based fighters over the Japanese homeland.

By 1942, Powell had shifted command to the 46th Fighter Squadron on Canton Island. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1943 and was assigned as the deputy commander of the 15th Fighter Group. Starting from April 21, 1944, Colonel Powell organized and activated the 21st Fighter Group. This wing was set up to provide fighter protection for bombing raids against Japan. In February 1945, the 21st Fighter Group was directly resubordinated under the VII Fighter Command and transported by ship to Iwo Jima, arriving at Central Field on March 25, 1945.

Kenneth R. Powell was born in 1915 and spent time in his early childhood in Oregon. From there, his family moved to Bozeman, Montana and then to Tacoma, Washington in 1921. He graduated from Stadium High School in 1934. That fall, he entered Washington State University located in Pullman, Washington. He was a varsity letterman in track and field; a Reserve Officers Training Corp cadet; a member of Scabbard and Blade; a member of Crimson Circle, the national senior men’s honorary society; and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated in June 6, 1938 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology and psychology with a reserve commission as a Second Lieutenant.