Patrick W. Timberlake

Patrick Weston Timberlake (December 25, 1901 – October 18, 1983) was a General in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, serving in both the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters of operation.

Timberlake attended the U.S. Military Academy, having a successful role on the football team there. Upon his graduation in 1923, he was commissioned in the US Army as a Second Lieutenant of Artillery. He later moved to the Army Air Corps and became a certified command pilot, combat observer and aircraft observer. He commanded units in Panama, North Africa, Okinawa & Naples.

Early Life & Career
Timberlake was born in Fort Greble, Dutch Island, Newport County, Rhode Island on Christmas Day, 1901. His family had a strong military tradition, with several West Point graduates. His father, Colonel Edward J. Timberlake, U.S. Army, USMA Class of 1893, played for West Point in the first Army-Navy football game in 1890. Col. Timberlake had four sons and all graduated from West Point. The second youngest, J. Coleman Timberlake, died in 1938 at age 32, but Patrick and his three brothers carried on the family’s military tradition in notable style. His brother, Edward J., was also an Air Force Lt. General and a decorated World War II hero; the oldest son, Edward, was an Army Brigadier General. Patrick enrolled in the US Military Academy at West Point where he played football as a tight end.

He had a critical role in the Army–Navy Game in 1922. He caught the go-ahead touchdown in the 4th Quarter to beat the Midshipmen, by 17-14. After graduating in 1923 he went into artillery with the Sixth Field Artillery at Fort Holye, Maryland. In 1925 he transferred to the 17th Field Artillery at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In September 1925 he entered Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas, a move that would completely change the course of his career. He was assigned to bombers in the Second Bomber Group shortly before the formation of the US Army Air Corps. After a spell as a flight instructor he was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone with the 24th Pursuit Squadron in 1929. In 1931 he got a command with the 78th Pursuit Squadron. He enrolled in the Air Corps Engineering School in 1933. He was then assigned to the Aircraft Branch of the Air Corps Materiel Division, and in October 1935 was appointed chief of the Attack and Observation Engineering Unit there. In the following years he attended the Air Corps Tactical School and the Command and General Staff School.

War Time Service
Timberlake entered combat operations in World War II as a Colonel in North Africa in charge of Ninth Bomber Command. He was appointed director of operations and plans for British Air Chief Marshal Tedder in 1943, and took over as his Chief of Staff after the formation of the Mediterranean Air Command. During this time he helped in the planning and execution of the campaigns in North Africa, Pantelleria, Sicily and mainland Italy. Returning to Washington in 1944, he was reassigned to 8th Air Force in Okinawa under Jimmy Doolittle in July 1945.

Post War Career
Timberlake assumed command of the 8th Air Force in 1946 before moving to various high level roles in the Army-Navy Munitions Board from late 1946 to 1950. In 1952 he assumed command of the Air Proving Ground Command at Eglin AFB until 1955. He was then transferred to Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers in Europe where he assumed the command of Allied Air Forces in Southern Europe based in Naples. He retired as a Lt. General in 1957. In his post-military career he worked with the Northrop Corporation. He died in San Antonio, Texas in 1983, aged 81.