Drew, Philip M.

“I loved flying the F-100. Started flying it at the age of 20 and never did get comfortable with the “compressor stalls” which would knock your feet off of the rudder pedals.

‘General Drew was born in 1939 in Ashland, Ky. He graduated from Klondike High School, Lafayette, Ind., in June 1957 and attended Purdue University until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in March 1959. The general received a bachelor of general studies degree from the University of Nebraska in 1969 and a master of business administration degree from Auburn (Ala.) University in 1970. He graduated from Air Command and Staff College in 1970 and the National War College in 1979.

The general completed aviation cadet training in June 1960 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. After completing F-100 training in June 1961, General Drew was assigned to the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan. In June 1964 he transferred with the squadron to England Air Force Base, La., flying F-100s until December 1964, when the unit moved to Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned as aide to the deputy commander, 7th Air Force and 13th Air Force, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in February 1966. Completing F-105 transition training in October 1966, General Drew flew Wild Weasel missions with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, until March 1968. During this time he was selected as Junior Officer of the Year for the Pacific Air Forces.

Upon his return to the United States, he served as an F-105 operational testing and evaluation project officer at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. After graduating from Air Command and Staff College in July 1970, he was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force and served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a legislative liaison officer with additional duties at the White House as a presidential social aide.

In February 1973 General Drew transferred to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, where he served initially as an F-4 flight commander and instructor pilot with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In December 1973 he become chief of the Operations and Scheduling Division, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. He then moved to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Clark Air Base, Philippines, as the operations officer for the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron and, subsequently, become commander of the 3rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron.

The general was assigned as chief, Program Management Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Requirements, Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va., in June 1976 and in April 1977 he become assistant chief of staff, Tactical Air Command. After completing the National War College in June 1979, he was assigned as chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Policy Branch, Plans and Policy, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.

In March 1981 he transferred to Kadena Air Base, Japan, where he served first as vice commander, 313th Air Division, before assuming command of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in August 1982. In July 1984 General Drew returned to Washington, D.C., as assistant deputy director for politico-military affairs, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in May 1985 he became deputy director. He assumed his present command in August 1986.

General Drew is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours and has more than 350 combat missions, 180 of which were over North Vietnam. He is credited with the destruction of one MiG-17. His military decorations and awards include the Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with five oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 21 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.'(1)

Source (1) af.mil