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Harry E. Goldsworthy
Goldsworthy he.jpg
Birth name Harry Edgar Goldsworthy Jr.
Born (1914-04-03)April 3, 1914
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Died February 16, 2022(2022-02-16) (aged 107)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1940–1973
Rank Lieutenant General
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Relations 2 sons, 4 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren

Lieutenant General Harry Edgar Goldsworthy Jr. (born April 3, 1914 – died February 16, 2022) was a very important leader in the United States Air Force. He was a lieutenant general. He was in charge of making sure the Air Force had everything it needed. This included supplies, maintenance, transportation, and helping other countries with military sales.

Early Life and Military Start

Harry Goldsworthy was born in Spokane, Washington, in 1914. He grew up on a farm near Rosalia, Washington. He finished high school in 1931. In 1936, he earned a degree in business from Washington State College. After college, he worked for a while. Then, in 1939, he joined the Army Air Corps to learn how to fly planes.

He finished flight school in 1940 at Kelly Field in Texas. His first job was at Langley Field, Virginia. Soon after, his group moved to Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico.

World War II Service

When World War II began, Harry Goldsworthy was stationed in Puerto Rico. He flew planes to look for enemy submarines. He patrolled the areas around Puerto Rico and Trinidad. In 1943, he moved to South Carolina. There, he helped train pilots to fly B-25 planes.

In July 1945, he went to the Southwest Pacific. He joined the 42nd Bombardment Group. When the war ended, he was in the Philippines. He was the commander of his group there.

After the War Years

After the war, Goldsworthy worked in Japan for a short time. In 1946, he returned to the United States. He was assigned to a B-29 unit in Arizona. In 1948, he became the commander of the 11th Bombardment Group in Texas.

In 1949, he moved to Washington, D.C. He joined a new group that studied weapons systems. In 1952, he attended the Army War College. From 1953 to 1956, he worked at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He was in charge of operations for the Air Proving Ground Command.

From 1956 to 1958, Goldsworthy served in Morocco and Libya. He worked as an inspector and then as chief of staff for the Seventeenth Air Force. During this time, he earned the Legion of Merit award.

Important Leadership Roles

In 1959, he graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He then joined the Strategic Air Command in Montana. He was the vice commander of the 4061st Air Refueling Wing. In 1960, he moved to the Ballistic Missiles Center. He led the team that set up the first Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Wing.

In 1963, Goldsworthy became the director of production and programming. This was for the U.S. Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1967, he took command of the Aeronautical Systems Division in Ohio. In 1969, he became the deputy chief of staff for systems and logistics. This was a very important role at the Air Force Headquarters.

Awards and Achievements

Lieutenant General Goldsworthy received many military awards. These included the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. He also earned the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters. An oak leaf cluster means he received the award multiple times. He also received the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters. He was also a skilled command pilot.

Personal Life and Later Years

By 1990, Harry Goldsworthy lived in Riverside, California. He enjoyed playing golf. His wife, Edith Lyons Goldsworthy, passed away in 2010. They had been married for 73 years. His brother was Robert F. Goldsworthy.

Harry Goldsworthy turned 100 years old in April 2014. He passed away on February 16, 2022. He was 107 years old.

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