Colonel Joesph McLachlan

Base Commander until June 1966 (When Base Closed)

Col. Joesph McLachlan Photo taken by Jim Dunlap

Thanks to Peggy Applegate for sending me information pertaining to her father, Col. Joesph McLachlan who served at Lincoln Air Force Base in the mid 1960s.

Col. Mclachlan served in World War II as a flight commander of a P-47 in Europe. He flew 91 combat missions and recieved the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart and Distinguished Unit Citation.

In 1953 he was assigned to Officer Career Planning at Headquarters USAF until 1956 where he was assigned to McDill AFB as a B-47 pilot later rising to aircraft commander, squadron commander and deputy director of operations. By September 1963 he was assigned to Lincoln AFB as the 98th deputy commander for maintenance and later became Base Commander.


The text of the news article states: "Final preparations for the "Old Timer's Softball Game" between the colonels and the senior sergeants of the base took place Wednesday with (left) Col. Joseph J. McLachlan, base commander, and MSgt. Floyd Holbert, spokesman for the sergeant's team. It looks as if the colonels will be up to bat first as the game gets underway at 2 pm tomorrow at the baseball diamond.  (Photo by Jet Scoop: Kuhfahl)