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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley presented the General
Wilbur L. Creech Maintenance Excellence Award to U.S. Air Forces in
Europe on Oct. 4 during his visit to Ramstein.
The Creech Award recognizes the major command demonstrating the most
improved performance in the category of aircraft maintenance and
logistics readiness for each fiscal year. Accepting the award on behalf
of USAFE was Brig. Gen. Duane Jones, USAFE headquarters director of
logistics.
USAFE was cited for distinguishing itself by demonstrating the most
improved performance in aircraft maintenance and logistics readiness
from Oct. 1, 2004, through Sept. 30, 2005. During that period, USAFE
showed improvements in aircraft availability and mission capability
rates while operating at numerous deployed locations throughout the
world supporting the Global War on Terrorism and Operations Enduring
Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
The award is named in memory of Gen. Wilbur L. “Bill” Creech. General
Creech, who died in 2003, received his commission and wings in 1949. He
flew 103 combat missions during the Korean War where he also served a
combat tour of duty as a forward air controller with the U.S. Army’s
27th Infantry Regiment. During the Vietnam War, General Creech flew 177
combat missions during his six months with the 37th Tactical Fighter
Wing at Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam.
In addition to combat duty, the general also flew 125 demonstration
flights with the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the
Thunderbirds. He also was leader and commander of the USAFE Aerial
Demonstration Team, the Skyblazers, based at Bitburg, Germany,
where he flew 399 aerial demonstrations throughout Europe, North Africa
and the Middle East. During his career, General Creech flew 40
different military fighter, cargo and reconnaissance aircraft.
