Shade 1549 - Service
Commander, Pacific Air Corps

General Bazley was born December 5, 1925 in Dormont (Pittsburg), Pennsylvania. He entered active duty through the aviation cadet program in January 1944. He received his navigator wings and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces (1945).

The end of World War II coincided with his completion of B-29 combat crew training and Bazley was released from active duty (1946). General Bazley was recalled to active duty and served as an RB-26 navigator with the 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, South Korea (1951).

During the Korean War he flew 50 combat sorties. After training he transferred to Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield, England, where he served as a pilot, flight commander and assistant operations officer with the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Bazley was assigned to the 3502nd U.S. Air Force Recruiting Group with duty in Pittsburgh (1958-1960).

Upon his return to England, he served at Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath as operations officer for the 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron and later as chief, Operations Division, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing (1965).

He commanded the 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, at Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Vietnam (1968). He flew 257 combat missions in F-100s. He served in many posts in the United States.

He then served as inspector general for Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; command's assistant for readiness (1976); command of the Air Force Inspection and Safety Center California (1978); Command of the Sheppard Technical Training Center Texas (1979-1980); commander of 3rd Air Force at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, England; vice commander in chief of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (1981).

Two years later he assumed duties as inspector general of the U.S. Air Force at Air Force headquarters. He assumed command of Pacific Air Forces Hawaii (1984), and retired from the Air Force on January 1, 1987.

Bazley was a command pilot and navigator with more than 4,500 flying hours.

His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 15 oak leaf clusters and Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He died in Chapel Hill, North Carolina December 16, 2012 at 87.