Tedd Lee Bishop

Brigadier General Tedd Lee Bishop USAF retired, passed away peacefully Sunday June 12th at the age of 90 to join his beloved wife of 60 years, Vera Pearson Bishop. Gen. Bishop was born in Asheville, NC in 1926 to Herman and Helen Shelton Bishop. At the age of 13, he began his lifelong love of flying. He would carry gas and wash airplane windshields in order to earn money to take flying lessons. He soon soloed his first plane, a 40 h.p. Cub. In March 1944 Tedd entered military service under the aviation cadet program; however, the cadet program closed and he served as a B-24 aircraft flight engineer until discharged in Oct. 1945. After leaving the Army Air Corp, his first job was an aero-mechanic for Delta. He then was a fireman on the railroad and went to Asheville-Biltmore College in 1946 and Ohio Univ. in 1947. He reentered the aviation cadet program in the newly formed U. S. Air Force in Oct. 1947, and as an outstanding cadet, graduated as regular commissioned officer. He next served at Stewart AFB, TN and later at Donaldson AFB, SC where he flew C-82s, C-47s and gliders. At Tyndall AFB, FL he completed Air Tactical School in 1950. It was in Asheville, NC where Tedd met the love of his life, Vera. They were married Nov 4, 1951 at Donaldson AFB. In June 1952, he was assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Wing in Korea where he flew 50 night intruder combat missions in the B-26. Returning to Donaldson AFB where he served with the 63rd Troop Carrier Wing as operations officer and flew C-119s and C-124s, he participated in Lebanon Crisis, Suez Crisis, Distant Early Warning Line construction, Operation Deep Freeze, Congo Crisis, and other major operations. He was the major planner and flew in the joint Army-Air Force “Operation Arctic Night” which was one of the largest troop drops north of the Arctic Circle. In addition he is credited with saving four C-124 transport aircraft during Antarctic flight operations. He then served at Maxwell AFB, AL, Keesler AFB, MS, Hurlburt Field, FL, earned his bachelor’s degree from Univ. of Omaha, and then assigned to McGuire AFB, NJ. In 1967 he was assigned to 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Yokota AFB, Japan. He was next stationed to Scott AFB, IL as deputy chief of staff for Air Operations and served as permanent chairman of the Interagency Joint Sampler Working Group and as permanent committeeman with the Interdepartmental Hurricane and Typhoon Conference. In 1971, he was transferred to McClellan AFB, CA as Commander of the 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing. Gen. Bishop commanded the 443rd Military Airlift Wing in Altus AFB, OK. While at Altus, he was made an honorary member of the Kiowa Tribe. He served his final command as Wing Commander of 437th Military Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, SC. Gen. Bishop logged more than 20,000 military and civilian accident-free flying hours and flew over 50 different aircraft. He also has the distinction of being one of the few people to have flown operationally over both the North and South Poles. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters, and the Order of the Sword by the Military Airlift Command noncommissioned officers for recognition of leadership. In 1978 he was awarded South Carolina’s highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Edwards. After retirement, Gen Bishop served as Vice President of Trident Tech, as well as an expert aviation insurance consultant. Gen. Bishop, known affectionately as D.O.D. (Dear Old Dad), is survived by his four daughters Lynn Coy, Leigh Bishop, Allyn Hoak, and Erin Taylor; sons-in-law Col. Gary Coy USAF/Ret , Rob Hoak, and Dr. Bill Taylor; and his seven beloved grandchildren, Sara Coy, Lara Coy White, Pearson Hoak, Robby Hoak, Ellis Taylor, Franklin Taylor, and Richmond Taylor, and great-granddaughter Ellen Gray Hoak. A memorial will be held Saturday, June 18th at 11:00 at The Church of the Transfiguration, Saluda, NC. He will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice in his honor.