Gerald (Jerry) McIllmoyle  -  Veteran

Gerald (Jerry) McIlmoyle was the oldest of seven children born to Eugene and Catharine and raised in McCook, NE. He left McCook to enter the Air Force in 1951 and become a pilot. By July 1957, he graduated with honors as a U-2 pilot from the Squadron Officer's School. His work flying reconnaissance flights over hostile lands led to his assignment to fly sorties over Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. During the Cold War he flew reconnaissance missions over the USSR, China, and North and South Vietnam. His career gave him three tours at SAC Headquarters and two tours at the Pentagon. During the Cold War, he was frequently the Officer in Charge for the "Looking Glass" that provided nuclear readiness in a command and control center in the sky. His leadership promoted him to the Base and then Wing Commander positions of the missile bases at F. E. Warren and Malmstrom, respectively. He rounded out his career with a final tour at the Pentagon as the Deputy Director of Operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff where he earned the rank of Brigadier General. As he yearned for new horizons, he thought this was a great time to say thanks and sayonara because he had achieved two of his lifelong dreams: to be a pilot and to become a general in the Air Force. His final day of active duty was July 1, 1981. He spent a second career as one of his real estate company's most successful real estate agents, helping young people buy their first homes when the country had double digit inflation and home loan rates. And a third career as the office manager for a cardiac rehab medical clinic. He retired with his first wife, Patty, in Venice. Patty died in 2013. Jerry was predeceased by his brothers and sisters: Jackie, Marien, Patty, Jim, and Berenice. He is survived by his youngest brother, Charles. Jerry and Patty's oldest child, Mary Catharine, died at birth, but he is survived by his four other children: Patrick (wife Robin); Ruth (husband Mark); Maureen and Erin; his seven grandchildren: Rebecca (husband Ricky), Dan, Katie (husband Jason), Brian, Kendra, Diana (husband Zach) and Samantha (husband Jim); and his three great-grandchildren: Sofia (11), Enrique (6) and Isaac (1). In August of 2014, Jerry married Joan at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Venice. They spent almost seven loving years together. Joan's children, Leanne (husband Steve) and Guy D. (wife Olga) grew to know Jerry as a treasured member of their family. Joan's grandchildren, Vincent and Alexis, called him "Papa".

As a young man from McCook, Nebraska, Gerald McIlmoyle enlisted in the Air Force in May of 1951 and started aviation cadet training that November. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings. In February of 1953 he completed advanced fighter training in the F-86F at Nellis AFB and then moved to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing at K-13 Suwon, South Korea. By April 1954 he was transferred to the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing where he flew F-84Fs at Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
In July 1957, he reported to the 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Laughlin AFB. He graduated with honors in 1958 from Squadron Officer’s School as a U-2 pilot. By 1960, he was flying the U-2 over much of the world collecting nuclear debris from atmospheric nuclear tests. During the Cold War he flew reconnaissance missions over the USSR, China, and North and South Vietnam.
In 1964 General McIlmoyle was assigned as a Plans Officer in the Space Section: Future Plans Branch of Headquarters SAC at Offutt AFB. While there he helped write the original operations concept for the SR-71 reconnaissance aircraft. In 1967 he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College and was transferred to the Pentagon as the primary Plans Action Officer for Space and Reconnaissance. Next, he was assigned to be the Director of the Joint Personnel Recovery Center with the Green Berets in Vietnam. After returning to the US, he was assigned as Director of Reconnaissance for SAC. His next assignments were at F.E. Warren AFB as first the Commander of a Minuteman Missile Squadron, next as Director of Operations, then Base Commander, and finally Vice Wing Commander. He finished his missile wing assignments back where he started at Malmstrom AFB as Commander of the 341st Missile Wing. He took leadership awards for Best in the Air Force, SAC, and 15th Air Force. His exemplary service as an officer and leader resulted in his promotion to Brigadier General.
In the twilight of his Air Force career, General McIlmoyle was Deputy Director of Operations for Strategic and General Purpose Forces in the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. In that capacity, he was in charge of the nuclear codes that the sitting President would need to authorize the use of nuclear weapons and consequently was called on to brief President Reagan before his inauguration.
General McIlmoyle was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for flights over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was selected to escort President Kennedy on a tour of the U-2, explaining its specifications and unique capabilities. President Kennedy personally expressed his thanks to all the U-2 pilots for their flights over Cuba which helped to resolve the Crisis peacefully. General McIlmoyle elected to retire from active duty on July 1,1981.
“When I was a kid growing up in western Nebraska, I was fascinated with airplanes and flying. I am blessed and honored that I got to live my dream of becoming a pilot and serving my Country.” - Gerald E. McIlmoyle

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