US Air Force General. After completing high school, he graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in June 1941 with a bachelor of arts degree in literature. He then entered pilot training with the Royal Canadian Air Force and in November 1942 he was commissioned a pilot officer (second lieutenant). He attended the Royal Canadian Air Force Astro Navigation School, graduating with a navigation rating. He was sent to Dyce, Scotland, where he completed Spitfire training and was assigned to the 541st Squadron Royal Air Force, a Photo Reconnaissance Squadron at Royal Air Force Benson, England. In September 1943, he transferred to the US Army Air Force and was assigned to the 7th Photographic Group, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations, and in 1944, he assumed command of the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group. He flew 65 missions in four different aircraft for a total of 235 combat flying hours. He was shot down while flying reconnaissance over the oil refinery at Merseberg, Germany, was captured and remained a prisoner of war until he was released by US Forces in May 1945. He was hospitalized and after his release, he performed duty at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1947, he became an instructor at the West Point Preparatory School, West Point, New York, and was then assigned as a group and wing personnel officer for the 82nd Fighter Wing, Grenier Field, New Hampshire (now closed). From November 1948 to November 1953, he served in the Directorate of Personnel, Headquarters Strategic Air Command. He was then sent to Korea for 11 months where he served as the inspector for the 4th Interceptor-Fighter Wing and then as commander of the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying 28 combat missions before the end of the Korean War. After his Korean tour was completed, he returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters Air Force, Washington DC, and served as the assistant to the deputy chief of staff, plans and programs, for National Security Council affairs. In 1959, he graduated from the Air War College and was assigned to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Paris, France, as a staff missile planner. In 1962, he returned to the United States and was assigned to Headquarters Air Force as the assistant deputy director for war plans and later as the assistant for joint and National Security Council matters, deputy chief of staff, plans and operations, where he served as the Air Force planner for Joint Chiefs of Staff matters. In September 1965, he was assigned to the 45th Air Division, Strategic Air Command, at Loring Air Force Base, Maine (now closed), as division commander with the B-52 and KC-135 aircraft units in that region. In July 1967, he was assigned to the US Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, as the assistant deputy chief of staff for military personnel, and commander. While in this assignment, he received the 1969 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award. In July 1969, he transferred to the Republic of Viet Nam as the vice commander, 7th Air Force, flying 36 combat missions during this assignment. He was promoted to lieutenant general on August 1, 1970 and was sent back to Headquarters Air Force where he was the deputy chief of staff for personnel. On October 1, 1973, he was promoted to the rank of general and was assigned the commander in chief of Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, retiring from that position on May 1, 1978, with 35 years of continued active military service in the US Army Air Corps and the Air Force. He was a command pilot with over 6,000 flying hours. Among his military and foreign decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart, the British Distinguished Flying Cross, and the French Croix d'Officer de la Legion d'honneur.

Distinguished Service Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War II
Service: Army Air Forces
Battalion: 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Division: 8th Air Force
GENERAL ORDERS:
Headquarters, U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 134 (October 14, 1945)

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Robert James Dixon (ASN: 0-886100), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as a Pilot of a Spitfire aircraft of the 14th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Photographic Group, EIGHTH Air Force, photographing heavily defended oil refineries as Merseburg, Germany, on 14 February 1945. Captain Dixon went down alone below the clouds to 15,000 feet where his single engine aircraft was hit by flak and set on fire. Completely disregarding his personal safety, Captain Dixon stayed with the smoking aircraft and despite the eminent danger of explosion, radioed important observations to his fighter cover. Captain Dixon remained with the critically damaged aircraft until he was able to give his fighter escort a corrected flight course to home base, then bailed out. By this heroic act, the military operation was successfully accomplished, changing the priority of a vitally important target, thereby saving the lives of allied airmen. Captain Dixon's heroism and his determination to complete this mission in complete disregard of the odds against him exemplifies the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.