General Snyder received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program and entered active duty in July 1957. General Snyder completed pilot training in September 1958 at Vance Air Force Base, Okla. In August 1959, after fighter training in F-100 Super Sabres at Luke Air Force Base, AZ, and Nellis Air Force Base, NV, he was assigned to the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, and flew F-100s.
The general returned to the United States in March 1962 and served as an F-100 instructor, weapons officer, and standardization and evaluation officer with the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, NM. During this tour of duty, he also attended fighter weapons school at Nellis Air Force Base and earned Jump Wings at Fort Benning, GA. In addition, he deployed to Europe, then Asia. He served at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in late 1962, and in 1965, became an air adviser and forward air controller with the South Vietnam forces in Quan Tri. General Snyder was assigned to Luke Air Force Base as an F-100 instructor in September 1965.
After completing Air Command and Staff College in August 1967, he returned to Southeast Asia and served as an F-100 instructor, weapons officer and flight commander. Shot down by ground fire in North Vietnam in December 1967, he was rescued and then hospitalized at Valley Forge, PA, until May 1968. He returned to Luke Air Force Base to help develop the F-104 Fighter Weapons School for German air force and navy pilots. From February 1971 to July 1972 General Snyder was assigned to the Defense Special Projects Group (sensor program) in Washington, DC. He was later transferred to the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, as a test project manager working A-7 software, the YF-16 and YF-17 and numerous other tests.
In February 1974, General Snyder was selected for special assignment to the U.S. element of the Central Treaty Organization, Ankara, Turkey. After completing the Army War College in August 1977, he returned to Luke Air Force Base and served with the 58th Tactical Training Wing, first as deputy commander for operations, F-5 and F-104, then as deputy commander for operations, F-4 and F-104. In August 1979 he became wing vice commander. He served as an instructor in all phases of F-104 student and fighter weapons instructor training.
General Snyder assumed command of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, in March 1981 and led the unit’s conversion from F-4Ds to F-16s. The “Wolfpack” was the first overseas U.S. Air Force wing equipped With F-16s. In July 1982 he became assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, Pacific Air Forces headquarters. The general assumed command of the 313th Air Division, Kadena Air Base, in July 1985. In September 1986 he was assigned as vice commander, 12th Air Force, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. He became commander of 13th Air Force, Clark Air Base, Philippines, in July 1987.
In January 1990 General Snyder became deputy chief of staff for operations, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, HI. In July 1990 he was assigned as deputy commander in chief and chief of staff, U.S. Special Operations Command. In May 1991 he became Vice commander, Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, VA. The command comprises more than 101,000 active military and civilian personnel stationed at 300 separate locations in 20 different countries. Tactical Air Command is also the gaining organization for 86,000 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel throughout the United States.(1)
Lieutenant General Donald Snyder retired from the USAF in July of 1992.
(1) Source: Https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105559/lieutenant-general-donald-snyder/
Gen Snyder’s son, Don sent us the following:
Donald Snyder (callsign “Pipper”) flew west in the early morning hours of the New Year. He was 86. Ironically, Don’s passing was nearly 55 years to the day of his shootdown over North Vietnam flying as “A2” on a Misty mission, 30 Dec 1967. Don and Thelma have three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Their son, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and three grandchildren served or are serving in the military. That family service now represents 139 years.
Don and Thelma grew up in western Pennsylvania. Don graduated from Penn State University in 1957, and he and Thelma were married that same year. He completed pilot training in 1959 and their Air Force odyssey began. Their journey is similar to many others and includes numerous moves, wonderful experiences and fantastic friendships. Don was in the fighter business his whole career, served with distinction, and retired as a Lieutenant General and vice commander of Tactical Air Command.
He and Thelma spent their retirement years back in western PA enjoying occasional travel, various community-service activities and hosting the ankle-biters as often as possible. Don lived a full and rewarding life. His positive attitude and friendly disposition were contagious. When asked how he was doing, he often replied, “Straight up and climbing!”
Published obituary:
Donald Snyder, 86, of Valencia, PA, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2023, at Butler Memorial Hospital. He was born on January 26, 1936, to Louis and Emily Snyder of Carnegie.
Donald attended Carnegie High School and graduated as valedictorian. He was a 1957 graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a degree in engineering. He also enrolled in the U.S. Air Force’s Reserve Officer Training Program and was selected for undergraduate pilot training.
Don married the former Thelma Jean Bradley of Oakdale on June 15, 1957, at the Federal United Methodist Church.
He completed pilot training in 1959 with an initial duty assignment to Kadena, AB on Okinawa, Japan, flying the F-100 Super Sabre. His distinguished military career ended 35 years later when he retired as the vice commander of Tactical Air Command as a lieutenant general in the U.S. Air Force. Numerous other duty postings included Cannon AFB, New Mexico; Luke AFB, Arizona; three combat tours in Vietnam; Montgomery, Ala.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; the Defense Special Projects Group in Washington, D.C.; Ankara, Turkey; Carlisle Barracks, Pa.; Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines; Hickam AFB, Hawaii; Kunsan AB, South Korea; Bergstrom AFB, Texas; McDill AFB, Fla.; and Langley AFB, Va.; as well as countless deployments away from home. He was a Fighter Weapons School distinguished graduate, held a master’s degree in public administration, and commanded at all levels in the Air Force.
General Snyder was a command pilot with more than 4,500 flying hours and had flown F-4, F-5, F-15, F-16, F-100, F-104, O-1 and T-33 aircraft. His military awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Air Medal. He was a member of the Premier Fellowship for Military Aviators, the Air & Space Forces Association, and the Super Sabre Society.
In his retirement years, Donald enjoyed community service through his church, teaching Sunday school, gardening, reading, occasional travel and spending more time with his beloved “TJ.”
Donald was a devout Christian, dedicated family man, patriot, and loyal friend. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and was blessed to meet his great-grandson, Ethan, last fall.
Donald’s legacy is his family – who loved him immensely – and who will greatly miss the example he set, his smiling face, his sense of humor and his warm heart. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Thelma Jean Snyder; his son, Donald Andrew Snyder and wife, Deborah, and their two children, Thomas, 17, and Summer, 15; his daughter, Susan Darlene Iverson and husband, Robert Iverson, and their three children, daughter Shannon Zamora, 34, and husband, Steven Zamora, 35, and their son, Ethan Robert Zamora, 5 months, a son, Matthew Iverson, 29, and son, Jonathan Iverson, 21; and his daughter, Diane Marie Snyder of Gibsonia. His brother, Louis Snyder, and sister, Betty Berlingeri preceded him in death.
Interment will follow in the Butler County Memorial Park with military honors performed by the Saxonburg American Legion.
Please consider making a donation to the American Red Cross in Don’s memory.
Published by Butler Eagle on Jan. 3, 2023.
Source: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/butlereagle/name/donald-snyder-obituary?id=38527944
