Former Air University commander passes away

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The 14th commander of Air University, who witnessed many changes at the university during his rein as commander, has passed away.

Lt. Gen. Raymond B. Furlong held the position of Air University commander from August 1975 to July 1979. He was 83 at the time of his death Sept. 28.

Milestones, innovations and changes were commonplace during the nearly four years General Furlong commanded Air University. The early years saw numerous high-profile speakers coming to the schools to impart their wisdom and experience to students. They included Gen. Alexander Haig, Senator Barry Goldwater, then Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. George Brown, then Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. James Holloway and then Secretary of the Air Force, Thomas Reed, and later Secretary of the Air Force John Stetson.

In December 1975, the Senior NCO Academy received accreditation from the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and in July 1976, Air University buried a time capsule near Maxwell Base Operations to be dug up on the nation's tri-centennial, July 4, 2076.

In early 1977, Air War College hosted the first "Big Week" program that brought retired generals Curtis LeMay, Ira C. Eaker and Haywood Hansell Jr. to the college to discuss the significance of airpower during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The first Air University Airpower Symposium was held in March 1977; General Furlong attended the first graduation of the Community College of the Air Force in April of that year; and in June, former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell arrived at Maxwell to begin serving his 8-year sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up.

In August 1977 the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps marked the 25th anniversary of the organization being a part of Air University, and in March 1978, General Furlong announced that Air University would no longer be a major command but would join the Air Training Command. Other firsts in 1978 were Master Sgt. Nancy Taylor being the first women instructor at the Senior NCO Academy; Col. Barbara Darden Francis being the first woman to attend the two-week Base Commander's Course; and Maj. Mary Abbott being the first woman AFROTC detachment commander. She was assigned to Valdosta State College, Ga. Some other milestones were Civil Air Patrol becoming a part of Air University in August 1976, and in July, Maxwell-Gunter celebrated the nation's bicentennial with a one-day open house that brought more than 12,300 vehicles and 60,000 people to the base. In March 1976, Squadron Officer School students and faculty built a replica of the Wright Brothers hangar using hand tools and working in the dark just as workers did to build the original hanger in March 1910.

General Furlong's 31-year Air Force career included serving with the 18th Fighter Group at Clark Air Base, Philippines, after graduating aviation cadet training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas in 1948. During the Korean War, he flew 74 combat missions as an F-80C Shooting Star pilot with the 8th Fighter Bomber Group in Korea.

He went on to work personnel with the 63rd Fighter Interceptor Group, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Mich.; was an exchange pilot with the Navy while assigned to the 527th Air Defense Group at Wurtsmith; served as the adjutant at the 527th group; and attended Harvard Business College in 1957. He then was sent to Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe where he served in various positions in the Directorate of Military Personnel, the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel.

He went on to attend the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, serve with the 772nd Troop Carrier Squadron, serve with the Assistant Chief of Staff for Studies and Analysis; and attend the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1967. Before coming to Air University, General Furlong served as commander of Sheppard Technical Training Center, Air Training Command, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

His military decorations and awards include the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. The general was born in Saint Marys, Pa., and graduated from Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa., in 1946 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He also held a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University and a doctorate in education from Auburn University.