Benjamin N. Bellis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benjamin N. Bellis
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| Born | February 4, 1924 Wheatland, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Died | August 19, 2019 (aged 95) Monument, Colorado, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |
United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1947–1981 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Vice commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Electronic Systems Division |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Benjamin Neil Bellis (February 4, 1924 – August 19, 2019) was an important Air Force leader. He reached the high rank of Lieutenant General. He served as the vice commander in chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, based in Germany. He also led the Air Force's Electronic Systems Division, which worked on advanced technology.
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Early Life and Education
Benjamin Bellis was born in Wheatland, Wyoming, in 1924. He finished high school in Lingle, Wyoming. After high school, he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He graduated in 1946 with a degree in military engineering and became a second lieutenant. He also earned his pilot wings.
Bellis continued his education, getting a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1952. Later, in 1965, he earned another master's degree in business administration from The George Washington University. He also completed a special business program at the University of California at Berkeley.
Military Career
After graduating from West Point, Bellis started his Air Force career in 1947. His first job was with the Strategic Air Command in Fort Worth, Texas. From 1947 to 1950, he worked on a special weapons project at Sandia Base, New Mexico.
Working with Advanced Weapons
After his studies at the University of Michigan, Bellis became a project officer. He worked on the TM-61B Matador weapon system until 1957. This was at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
In 1958, he joined the Ballistic Missiles Division. Here, he helped develop the Thor ballistic missile. By 1960, he was in charge of managing the Atlas ballistic missile program.
Leadership Roles
In 1961, Bellis moved to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command. He helped create policies for managing large military systems. In 1965, he was assigned to the Aeronautical Systems Division. He became a key leader for the F-12/SR-71 aircraft programs. These were very fast reconnaissance planes.
Later, he became the director for the F-15 fighter jet program in 1969. This was a major role in developing one of the Air Force's most important aircraft.
High Command Positions
In 1974, Bellis became the commander of the Electronic Systems Division. This division worked on advanced electronic systems for the Air Force. Later that year, he moved to Germany to command the Seventeenth Air Force.
In 1977, he became the commander of the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force in Turkey. His final major role began in 1978. He became the vice commander in chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe. This made him a top leader for all U.S. Air Force operations in Europe.
Awards and Retirement
Lieutenant General Bellis was a highly decorated officer. He earned the Distinguished Service Medal with an oak leaf cluster. He also received the Legion of Merit with an oak leaf cluster. Other awards included the Air Force Commendation Medal.
His teams also won awards for their excellent work on the F-12/SR-71 and F-15 programs. He was promoted to lieutenant general on July 1, 1977. Bellis retired from the Air Force on August 1, 1981. He passed away on August 19, 2019.
