Merrill mcpeak biography

Merrill Anthony "Tony" McPeak

General, U.S. Air Force

Merrill Anthony "Tony" McPeak was born 9 January 1936 in Santa Rosa, CA. After graduating from Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, OR, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from San Diego State College in 1957 and became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through AFROTC, and entered active duty in November of that year.

After completing preflight and pilot training, he flew F-100 Super Sabre and F-104 Starfighter fighter aircraft in operational squadrons in the U.S.

and in the United Kingdom. Later he returned to the U.S. as an instructor pilot and weapons officer at Luke AFB, AZ.

From December 1966 to December 1968, McPeak was assigned as a Solo and Lead Solo Pilot with the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's acrobatic flying team.

While with the Thunderbirds, he performed in nearly 200 air shows in the U.S. and overseas.

Upon completion of