Maj. Gen. Albert W. Schinz

ALBERT W. SCHINZ, retired Class of 1937 General Schinz completed his primary and secondary education in Ottawa. He began his military career in 1940 in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving later as a pilot, flight commander, operations officer, squadron officer, and then deputy group commander in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. He later graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1948 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation his accomplished military career included, serving in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations at the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C., deputy commander 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Korea, Deputy Director of Operations of the Ninth Air Force, Commander of the 50th Fighter Bomber Group in Europe, Director of Operations and Training at the U.S. Air Forces Headquarters in Europe, Director and Chief of Staff for operations at Headquarters Armed Forces Special Weapons Project in Washington, D.C. Beginning in 1960 he assumed command of various tactical air command organizations, became Chief of the Air Force Advisory Group, U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam, assumed command of the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center, served as deputy chief of staff of operations of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, and commanded the Twelfth Air Force at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. General Schinz had more that 4,000 military flying hours, with decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star for gallantry in action, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, and four Distinguished Flying Crosses. Life Magazine, in 1952, highlighted his ordeals endured on a deserted island after being shot down in Korea behind enemy lines.