Allen, Jesse Milton, Maj Gen

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Maj. Gen. Jesse M. Allen, 86, of Biloxi, MS died Sunday, March 4, 2012 in Biloxi.
Maj. Gen. Jesse M. Allen retired as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
General Allen was born in Mode, Ill., in 1925, and graduated from high school in Fisher, Ill., in 1942. He enlisted in the Army of the United States in December 1943 during World War II and served until 1946, attaining the grade of Technical Sergeant.
He had a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University. He has attended the Armed Forces Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
General Allen was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1948 after completing a series of competitive examinations while at the University of Illinois. He entered on active duty in April 1950. After attending pilot training at Connally Air Force Base, Texas, and Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., he received his pilot wings in May 1951.
From August 1951 to February 1953, during the Korean War, he served successively as a jet fighter pilot, Flight Commander, Squadron and Group Operations Officer with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in Korea. He flew 151 combat missions in the F-80 Shooting Star.
General Allen returned to the United States in February 1953 and was appointed Gunnery Instructor at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Later he attended Instrument Pilot Instructors School and became Assistant Operations Officer with the 3626th Flying Training Group at Tyndall Air Force Base.
In October 1953 he was transferred to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., where he served until September 1956 as an F-84 Thunderstreak pilot, instructor pilot, Squadron Operations Officer and Group Operations Officer. From September 1956 to June 1958, he was Chief, Special Functions Section for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations for Crew Training Air Force at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and later became Chief, Operations Branch.
In June 1958 General Allen was assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at Bentwaters Air Station, England. In March 1959 he was transferred to Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, as Operations Officer, and later served as Commander of a NATO Special Training Detachment. He returned to the United States in January 1962 to attend the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
From July 1962 to August 1965 he was an Operations Staff Officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. He next was assigned to the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, Calif., as Director of Operations. In September 1966 he again went overseas, this time to be commander of the 555th Tactica1 Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. While on this assignment he flew 87 missions in F-4 aircraft.
General Allen returned to the United States and was assigned in August 1967 as a member of a special study group for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. From July 1968 until August 1969 he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He received a Master's degree from The George Washington University during this period. In August 1969 he was transferred to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development, as Chief, Advanced Systems Branch, in the Directorate of Operational Requirements and Development Plans.
General Allen went to England Air Force Base, La., in July 1970 to command the 4410th Combat Crew Training Wing, which was later replaced by the 4403d Tactical Fighter Wing.
In June 1971 General Allen was named Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for plans at Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, and in April 1972 he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for plans.
General Allen assumed duties as Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, June 15, 1974.
His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Presidential Unit Citation Emblem with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with "V" Device and Oak Leaf Cluster.
He was promoted to the grade of Major General July 1, 1974, with date of rank Feb. 2, 1972.
Major General Allen was preceded in death by his first wife, Thelma Allen; and two daughters, Nancy and Emily Allen.
Survivors include his wife Barbara Allen; daughter, Susan Klasing; son, Steven Allen; three grandchildren, Charmaine, Samantha and Jillian; and sisters, Jean Birkey and Mary Rohlfing.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the Biloxi Yacht Club on the third floor in the banquet room.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.
The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Published in The Sun Herald on March 7, 2012