This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Partridge, Earle Everard, Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Fort Slocum, New York
Date of Passing Sep 07, 1990
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He served in combat in WWI, WWII, and Korea.
The location of his remains is unknown.
The President of the United States of America, under the provisions of the Act of Congress approved July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major General Earle Everard Partridge (AFSN: 0-15502/33A), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding General, FIFTH Air Force, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea from 14 July to 28 September 1950. During this period General Partridge personally, and at the risk of his life from enemy ground fire and enemy air patrols, performed repeated reconnaissance flights in unarmed aircraft deep into enemy territory and over the enemy front lines. He performed many of these flights with his Army counterpart, Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker, in order that they as a team could better perform their respective duties. Included in these flights were the first night reconnaissance missions flown by the United Nations Forces. The knowledge gained by General Partridge from these reconnaissance flights was invaluable to him in making tactical decisions and contributed largely to the successful accomplishment of his mission and the ultimate success of the United Nations Forces in driving the invading enemy back to the 38th Parallel. In addition to the above, and with personal disregard not only of health but of life itself, he was constantly present at the most advanced Air Force bases and on the battlefield at great personal risk, inspiring personnel of his command and other United Nations Forces with his own aggressiveness and courage. Where acts of courage were common, General Partridge's fearlessness and courageous leadership were outstanding.
General Orders: General Headquarters Far East Command: General Orders No. 39 (October 5, 1950)
He also earned the following foreign decorations that are not shown on the ribbon chart: Polish Order of Polonia Restituta, Korean Order of Military Merit.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Air Offensive, Europe Campaign (1942-44)/Operation Strangle
From Month/Year
March / 1943
To Month/Year
January / 1944
Description Operation Strangle was a series of air interdiction operations during the Italian Campaign of World War II by the United States Fifteenth and Twelfth Air Forces to interdict German supply routes in Italy north of Rome from March 24, 1943, until the fall of Rome in spring 1944. Its aim was to prevent essential supplies from reaching German forces in central Italy and compel a German withdrawal. The strategic goal of the air assault was to eliminate or greatly reduce the need for a ground assault on the region. Although the initial goal of forcing the enemy to withdraw was not achieved, the air interdiction of Operation Strangle played a major role in the success of the subsequent ground assault Operation Diadem.
Two principal interdiction lines were maintained across the narrow boot of Italy. This meant that no through trains were able to run from the Po Valley to the front line, and that south of Florence substantially all supplies had to be moved by truck. The operation employed medium bombers and fighter bombers over a 150-square-mile (390 km2) area from Rome to Pisa and from Pescara to Rimini.
