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Brigadier General
James V.G. Wilson
Permanent Professor 1959–1965
Acting Dean of the Faculty 1964–1965
B.S., United States Military Academy
M.S., University of Illinois
Jim Wilson, the Academy’s 5th Permanent Professor, was born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, in 1913. He attended Geneva College before entering the United States Military Academy from which he graduated in 1935 with a Bachelor’s degree. He earned his Army Air Corps wings at Randolph and Kelly Fields, TX, in 1936. He was then assigned to the 15th Observation Squadron, Scott Field, IL. During this tour he attended and then instructed the Autogiro Operation and Maintenance Course, Patterson Field, OH. In 1938 he was assigned to the 16th Observation Squadron at Fort Benning, GA, responsible for testing the autogiro. In 1939 he spent six months with the 9th Bombardment Group (Heavy) at Mitchell Field, NY. From 1940 to 1943, Jim was an Instructor of Mechanics in the Physics Department at the USMA. During 1943 Jim served with the 48th Bombardment Group (Dive) at Key Army Air Field (AAF), MI, and commanded the 404th Fighter Bomber Group at Orlando AAF, FL, moving with it to Congaree, SC; Burns AAF, OR; and Myrtle AAF, SC. In January 1944 he reported to the 337th Fighter Group at Sarasota, FL, before assuming command of the 59th Fighter Group, Thomasville AAF, GA. He then was sent in December to England with the 8th Air Force where he was assigned as the Deputy Commander of the 359th Fighter Group at East Wretham. He flew fighter escort until March 11, 1945, when his P-51 sustained a coolant leak and he was forced to bail out over northwestern Germany. Jim was interned as a Prisoner of War in Barth, Germany, until repatriated in May 1945. Returning to the US, he served as Director of Operations and Training, 74th Reconnaissance Group, Stuttgart AAF, AK. Jim then earned a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1947. He was assigned to the USMA as an Instructor, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering from 1947 to 1950. In 1950 he joined HQ Air Research and Development Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, and served as Director of Administration, Electronics Subdivision and Director of Electronics. After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, his 14-month assignment before coming to the Air Force Academy was Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), Operations, Japan Air Defense Force, Far East Air Forces, during the Korean War. Jim joined the Academy faculty at its interim location at Lowry AFB, CO. From October 1954 to July 1955, as Professor of Chemistry and Physics, he organized and staffed the Chemistry Department. For the next 10 months, he did the same for the Physics Department and was the Acting Head of the department. From 1956 to 1963 he organized, staffed, and ran the Department of Electrical Engineering as Professor and Head. He was appointed Permanent Professor in 1959 and remained Head of Electrical Engineering until a sabbatical, 1962–1963, as Assistant to the Director of Communications and Electronics, DCS, Operations, HQ Air Defense Command, Peterson AFB, CO. Jim returned to the Academy as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and was Acting Dean of the Faculty during Brigadier General McDermott’s sabbatical leave for the Academic Year 1964–1965. He was promoted to brigadier general upon his retirement from the USAF in 1965, the first USAFA Permanent Professor to retire.
After several months of retirement, Jim suffered a heart attack. However, he recovered and became Administrator of Academic Affairs at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, in 1966, retiring again in 1978. Jim Wilson died in 1983 and is buried in the Air Force Academy Cemetery.