Group to Brig Gen Kurt M. Landon, US Air Force

Group to Brigadier General Kurt M. Landon, US Air Force: Legion of Merit, unnamed, wrap brooch, unnumbered; Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, slot brooch, unnamed; Air Medal, wrap brooch, unnamed, unnumbered; Army Commendation Medal, unnamed, crimp-over-slot brooch; American Defense Service Medal, slot brooch; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal. With extensive original documentation, including: original Legion Merit certificate (May 1957); his West Point diploma; his appoint as a cadet (1926); commission as a brigadier general, US Air Force (1953); commission as a colonel, US Air Force (1948); commission as a lieutenant colonel (Air Corps, 1942); commissions as second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain, Air Corps; National War College diploma, 1949; Landon’s certificate of retirement (1958); a booklet, Blytheville Army Air Field (Landon was commanding officer); several original and reprint photographs from throughout his career; a letter from Air Force Chief of Staff Thomas D. White upon Landon’s retirement; various course completion certificates.

Landon was born in Missouri in 1908 and graduated from West Point in 1930. Commissioned as an infantry officer, he quickly transferred to the Air Corps, attending Primary and Advanced Flying Schools in 1931. In 1935, he attended the Air Corps’ Photographic Course. Landon served as a pilot in the 25th Bombardment Squadron and later the 7th Observation Squadron. Moving to Scott Field, he applied his schooling in the development of aerial photographic procedures. In 1938, he became an instructor pilot at the Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas, He remained in instructor and command positions until moving to the 73rd Bomb Wing, flying five missions in B-29s from Saipan. After the war, Landon took command of Ladd Air Force Base, Alaska. He later became the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, first in the Pentagon and then at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, earning the Legion of Merit. He then went to Hawaii as commander of the Pacific Air Forces Base Command and the Hawaiian Air Defense Division. In 1958, he was diagnosed with leukemia and was medically retired. Brigadier General Landon died in January 1961 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.