James L. Murray
Major General James L. Murray
Born(1919-01-04)January 4, 1919
Newton, North Carolina
DiedMay 9, 2004(2004-05-09) (aged 85)
Point Clear, Alabama
Place of burial
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1940–1975
Rank Major General
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal

Major General James L. Murray (January 4, 1919 – May 9, 2004) was a United States Air Force officer and Engineering Project Manager for the XB-52 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Biography

In 1939, Murray graduated from the North Carolina State College with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He took a position at NACA working with wind tunnels at Langley Field.

In 1940, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flying cadet, and subsequently received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in February 1941. During the war, he was a flight instructor for the B-17, B-24, and B-29 at Gunter Field. Notable among his students were members of the Tuskegee Airmen 332nd Fighter Group (99th Pursuit Group) and the aviation author Ernest K. Gann, who referred to him as "a most skillful young Army pilot."[1]

After the war, he worked as a NACA pilot at Moffett Field testing thermal deicing systems.

NACA C-46A testing de-icing systems.

His career in the Air Force included being the Chief of Special Projects at Wright Field where the ejection seat used in jet aircraft was introduced, and a project manager during the nascent XB-52 program.

In 1954, Murray resigned his active commission as Colonel, but remained in the reserve until 1975 when he retired as a Major General. He was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal at Bolling AFB.

From 1971-1975, he was chairman of the Air Force Reserve Forces Policy Committee under the Secretary of the Air Force.

For 30 years, he held several executive positions in the aerospace industry at Garrett Corporation, Republic Aviation, Aero Commander, Vice President of the C-5 division at Douglas Aircraft Company. In 1969 he became President of Teledyne/CAE and served in local roles including the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and as chairman of the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce.[2][3]

Murray was a member of Conquistadores del Cielo, The Burning Tree Club and a trustee of the USAF Falcon Foundation. [4]

Death

Grave at Arlington National Cemetery

Following prolonged illness which included lung cancer, Murray died on May 9, 2004, at the age of 85 of congestive heart failure at his home in Point Clear, Alabama. He was survived by his wife Phyllis Jennings Murray; daughters Lucy Howell, Marilyn Van Dyke, Margaret Harcourt, and sons James L. Murray, Jr., Mark Murray, Kenneth Murray, Bret Murray, and nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Murray was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Gann, Ernest Kellogg (1986). Fate is the Hunter. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 213. ISBN 0-671-63603-0. OCLC 14411658.
  2. ↑ "Air Force major general was Teledyne executive". The Blade. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "James Murray Obituary (2004) - Mobile, AL - The Mobile Metropolitan Area". Legacy.com. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "James Murray Obituary (2004) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times". Legacy.com.
  5. ↑ Burial Detail: Murray, James L (Section 54, Grave 3976) – ANC Explorer
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