This Military Service Page was created/owned by
TSgt Gary McPherson (Mac)
to remember
Klocko, Richard Philip, Lt Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Dunkirk
Last Address Hilton Head, South Carolina
Date of Passing Apr 19, 2011
Location of Interment U.S. Military Academy West Point Post Cemetery (VLM) - West Point, New York
Following graduation from West Point, young Lt. Klocko completed basic and advanced flight training in October 1938.
His first assignment in the Army Air Corps was with the 32nd Pursuit Squadron 36th Pursuit WIng, Losey Air Field, Ponce, Puerto Rico. On 13 December 1941, his P-39D (#41-6843) crashed at Arecibo Field due to a mechanical failure.
Next, he was reassigned to England where he served in the Headquarters European Theater of Operations.
In October 1942, in preparation for "Operation Torch" he was assigned to command the new 350th Fighter Group being formed at RAF Bushey Hall, Watford, England, the headquarters for the 8th AIr Force Fighter Command. Major Klocko was stationed at RAF Duxford at that time.
The group flew to North Africa to support the invasion as part of the 12th Air Force. The aircraft of the unit was the P-39 Airacobra.
On 24 February 1943, while on a special mission over enemy lines, dropping messages to isolated units, he was taken a prisoner of war. For this special mission, General Klocko received the Silver Star from the commanding general of the 1st Armored Division. He remained a prisoner of war in Germany until April 1945. He was a POW at Stalag 7A, Moosburg, Bavaria, 48-12 . (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich, 48-11). At Stalag Luft III " He was a trusted staff officer in South Camp. Among other things, he handled planning for emergency action in the event of an effort by the Waffen SS or the Gestapo to liquidate the prisoners. ")
Upon return to the States at the end of the War, General Klocko was assigned to the War Department General Staff, Washington, D.C., from August 1945 to October 1947. He was then appointed chief, Supplemental Research Branch, Director of Intelligence, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.
From August 1949 to July 1950 General Klocko attended the Air War College, and from July 1950 until July 1952, he served both as an instructor and member of the Air War College faculty. General Klocko remained at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, until July 1954 serving as a member of the Graduate Study Group, working on policy and doctrine for Air Force operations.
General Klocko was then assigned to the U.S. Air Force Security Service, Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, as deputy chief of staff operations. He served in this capacity until 30 June 1955, when he was reassigned as chief of staff, U.S. Air Force Security Service, a position he held until July 1956. During these assignments, he received the Legion of Merit for his contribution to the Security Service mission.
In July 1956, General Klocko was appointed commander, 6900th Security Wing, Frankfurt, Germany. He commanded the wing until August 1960. During this assignment he was promoted to brigadier general. In August 1960, General Klocko was reassigned as deputy commander, U.S. Air Force Security Service. He was promoted to major general in January 1962 and became commander of U.S. Air Force Security Service on 1 September 1962. General Klocko, a command pilot, assumed his duties as director, Defense Communications Agency, Washington, D.C. 15 November 1967 where he served until his retirement in 1971.
He was interred at West Point on 2 May 2011.
Other Comments:
Notes/Links:
http://home.tiscali.nl/~mwarnaar/32nd_%20History_and_serials.pdf http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/558506/Richard-Philip-Klocko.html?nav=5008 http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6080
http://www.aviationarcheology.org/src/dbasn.asp?SN=41-6843&Submit4=GO (crash in 1941)
http://www.usafa.edu/df/dflib/SL3/americans/klocko.cfm?catname=Dean%20of%20Faculty (POW Photo of Gen Klocko at Stalag Luft III )
Notes:
The 350th Fighter Group was largely made up of American flyers who had been fighting as part of the RAF with the Eagle Squadron. Details at: http://www.cieldegloire.com/fg_350.php
