Shade 1549 -Service
Commander, Norad
Bomber pilot

He was born in Saginaw, Michigan, in 1907. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, General Gerhart joined the newly formed Eighth Air Force. In July 1942 he went to England with the first contingent of the Eighth Air Force.

General Gerhart was a test pilot and then a glider pilot-a brave leader of brave men in war and in peace.

In June 1943 he assumed command of the 95th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, and later became commander of the 93rd Combat Bomb Wing which comprised four groups of B-17 Flying Fortresses.

In early 1946, Gerhart returned to London and Paris for a year as air adviser to the American Delegation participating along with the major allies in drafting the Balkan and Italian peace treaties. Gerhart was appointed as Joint Chiefs of Staff adviser to the Planning Board of the National Security Council in March 1953, and after two years in that capacity, was designated chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group to the United Kingdom.

Among his decorations include the Silver Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star, The Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the French Croix de Guerre with palm, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm.

One year later, Gerhart became the commander of the United States Twelfth Air Force in Germany. He was appointed by President John F. Kennedy to be commander-in-chief of the North American Air Defense Command, August 1, 1962.

He retired from the Air Force on March 1, 1965, and died January 9, 1981.