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→Military, 1958-1967
==Military, 1958-1967==
==Military, 1958-1967==
On January 1, 1958, Wade was assigned as commander of the 1st Missile Division at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] near [[Lompoc, California|Lompoc]], California. Here he commanded the first operational missile unit in Air Force history. His commission was two-fold: (1) maintain operational capability with [[intercontinental ballistic missile]]s, and (2) establish operational readiness training for the missile crews of the SAC missile sites. He hence played a role in the development of [[Corona (satellite)|Discoverer]], [[Samos (satellite)|Samos]], and [[Missile Defense Alarm System|Midas]] orbiting [[satellite]] programs.<ref name=bio/>
On January 1, 1958, Wade was assigned as commander of the 1st Missile Division at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California. Here he commanded the first operational missile unit in Air Force history. His commission was two-fold: (1) maintain operational capability with [[intercontinental ballistic missile]]s, and (2) establish operational readiness training for the missile crews of the SAC missile sites. He hence played a role in the development of [[Corona (satellite)|Discoverer]], [[Samos (satellite)|Samos]], and [[Missile Defense Alarm System|Midas]] orbiting [[satellite]] programs.<ref name=bio/>
From Vandenberg, General Wade was sent in April 1961 to [[Tórrejon Air Base]] near [[Madrid, Spain|Madrid]], [[Spain]], where he commanded SAC's [[16th Air Expeditionary Task Force]]. He received his promotion to lieutenant general on August 1, 1963 and assumed command of SAC's [[Second Air Force]] with headquarters then at [[Barksdale Air Force Base]] in [[Bossier City, Louisiana|Bossier City]], some fifty miles west of his hometown of Homer, Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/99999999/BARKSDALEWARRIOR/80124016/Barksdale-commanders|title=Barksdale Commanders, January 25, 2008|publisher=''[[The Times (Shreveport)|Shreveport Times]]''|accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref> Then on August 1, 1966, he assumed command of the [[Eighth Air Force]] at [[Westover Air Reserve Base|Westover Air Force Base]] near [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], [[Massachusetts]]. As the commander at Westover, he was responsiible for bombers, tankers, and missiles located south from [[Goose Bay]], [[Labrador]], to [[Ramey Air Force Base]] in [[Aguadilla, Puerto Rico|Aguadilla]], [Puerto Rico]], and extending westward from [[Loring Air Force Base]] in [[Aroostook County, Maine|Aroostook County]], [[Maine]], to [[Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base]] near [[Clinton, Oklahoma|Clinton]], [[Oklahoma]].<ref name=bio/>
From Vandenberg, General Wade was sent in April 1961 to Tórrejon Air Base near [[Madrid]], [[Spain]], where he commanded SAC's 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force. He received his promotion to lieutenant general on August 1, 1963 and assumed command of SAC's Second Air Force with headquarters then at [[Barksdale Air Force Base]] in Bossier City]], some fifty miles west of his hometown of Homer, Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/99999999/BARKSDALEWARRIOR/80124016/Barksdale-commanders|title=Barksdale Commanders, January 25, 2008|publisher=''Shreveport Times''|accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref> Then on August 1, 1966, he assumed command of the [[Eighth Air Force]] at Westover Air Reserve Base near [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], [[Massachusetts]]. As the commander at Westover, he was responsiible for bombers, tankers, and missiles located south from [[Goose Bay]], [[Labrador]], to Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla]], [Puerto Rico]], and extending westward from Loring Air Force Base in Aroostook County, [[Maine]], to Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base near Clinton, Oklahoma, [[Oklahoma]].<ref name=bio/>
Wade received the [[Legion of Merit]] with [[Oak leaf cluster]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross]], [[Soldier's Medal]], [[Air Medal]] with oak leaf cluster and the [[Commendation Medal|Air Force Commendation Medal]].<ref name=bio/>
Wade received the [[Legion of Merit]] with [[Oak leaf cluster]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross]], [[Soldier's Medal]], [[Air Medal]] with oak leaf cluster and the [[Commendation Medal|Air Force Commendation Medal]].<ref name=bio/>
Wade died in 1990 at the age of seventy-eight. He and Mrs. Wade donated memorabilita to the [[Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum]] in Homer, Louisiana, which he considered to have been his hometown. On display are the general's portrait, flags, medals, and awards as well as various weapons from [[World War I]] to the Vietnam era, including a World War II "Liberator," a rare pistol meant to be discarded after a single use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claiborneone.org/ford/exhibits.html|title=The David Wade Military Room|publisher=claiborneone.org|accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref>
Wade died in 1990 at the age of seventy-eight. He and Mrs. Wade donated memorabilita to the [[Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum]] in Homer, Louisiana, which he considered to have been his hometown. On display are the general's portrait, flags, medals, and awards as well as various weapons from [[World War I]] to the Vietnam era, including a World War II "Liberator," a rare pistol meant to be discarded after a single use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.claiborneone.org/ford/exhibits.html|title=The David Wade Military Room|publisher=claiborneone.org|accessdate=June 10, 2012}}</ref>
==References==
==References==