Gordon Aylesworth Blake was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force who served as director of the National Security Agency from 1962 to 1965.
15 Facts About Gordon Blake
1.
2.
Gordon Aylesworth Blake was born in Charles City, Iowa, on July 22,1910, the son of George and Cecelia Blake.
3.
Gordon Blake graduated from high school in Charles City and was appointed to the United States Military Academy by the late Gilbert N Haugen in 1927, graduating on June 11,1931.
4.
Gordon Blake was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps and detailed as a student officer to pilot training.
5.
In October 1932, Blake completed Primary and Advanced Flying Schools.
6.
Gordon Blake was transferred to the Air Corps on January 25,1933, and was assigned to a pursuit squadron at Barksdale Field, Louisiana.
7.
On December 7,1941, Gordon Blake was base operations officer at Hickam Field during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action that day.
8.
In October 1942, Gordon Blake shifted back to communications work and commanded Army Airways Communications System in the Pacific for the rest of World War II, with the exception of the period October 1943 to January 1944, when on temporary duty in Alaska, he established the Air Communications Office for Alaska.
9.
Gordon Blake returned from overseas in November 1945, and in January 1946, was appointed deputy commander of the Airways and Air Communications Service at Langley Field, Virginia.
10.
Gordon Blake was named assistant deputy chief of staff for operations on June 2,1956.
11.
Gordon Blake left Washington on January 4,1957, to become commander of the United States Air Force Security Service, a major component of the United States Air Force with its headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.
12.
Gordon Blake was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service in this command.
13.
On September 1,1959, Gordon Blake was assigned as vice-commander-in-chief and chief of staff, Pacific Air Forces, the air arm of the joint Pacific Command with its headquarters in Hawaii.
14.
Gordon Blake came to Headquarters Continental Air Command in July 1961 as commander-designate.
15.
Gordon Blake assumed command of Continental Air Command on September 30,1961, and became a lieutenant general on October 1,1961.