Retired United States Four-star General George James Eade passed away peacefully on August 26 in his Healdsburg residence with his family at his bedside.
Born in Lockney, Texas on October 27, 1921, Eade entered military service as an aviation cadet in 1942. After hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he felt it was his duty to serve his country. He was awarded his wings and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. From there, Eade would advance swiftly through military ranks to finish his exciting career as a four-star general.
During WWII, Eade flew on 37 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations. After his plane was shot down over the Mediterranean, he was rescued by the Free French Navy and sent to an English hospital with serious injuries. But no sooner was he healed, Eade was back in the cockpit.
While stationed in Paris at the end of the war, Eade met Colette, a young Swiss visiting Paris. After a courtship fit for fairytales, Jim and Colette married in Neuchatel, Switzerland, embarking on 48 years of married life in many different locations. They raised five children who would soon pick up their parents’ passion for the arts, especially music, and the great outdoors.
1947 marked the beginning of a long series of assignments with the Strategic Air Command: B-29 pilot with the 43d Bombardment Wing, Commander of the 1st Strategic Support Squadron in Arizona, Deputy Director of Operations at SAC’s 7th Air Division in England, Commander of the 2nd Bombardment Wing in Barksdale Louisiana, and Commander of the 7th Bombardment Wing in Carswell, Texas. In 1963, Eade went to SAC headquarters as Chief of the Safety Division, and later became Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations.
In February 1970, Eade was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force as Director of Plans. He went on to become Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, then crowned his career as Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command in Stuttgart Germany.
By the end of his military career, Eade had flown a wide range of aircraft, including the English Spitfire, C-47s, the Looking Glass, the 747 and the Concorde.
After retiring from the Air Force in 1975, Eade went on to direct a consulting agency in Munich.
His military decorations and awards include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal.
But Jim Eade was also a family man. He taught his children to ride horses, water ski, sail and windsurf. He loved walks in nature observing the birds and plants on his way. He also saw to it that the house was filled with music, which ranged from Bach to Burl Ives.
After retirement, Jim and Colette settled in Healdsburg, California, where they spent their time exploring the area, flying over the Sonoma vineyards and travelling far and wide to visit family and friends. Jim continued to serve the military by working to obtain awards for fellow WWII pilots who had gone unrecognized. In 1994, his beloved Colette passed away.
Jim supported local organizations like the Sonoma County Humane Society and the Bird Rescue Center. He was a special guest at the Annual Santa Rosa Air Show and speaker at the Pacific Coast Air Museum. An active member and regular lector of Saint John’s Church, he attended events organized by the Italian Catholic Federation. He was also key member of the World War II Pilots group in the Sonoma area.
Jim Eade was often heard to say that he considered every year after 80 a gift from God.
George James Eade is survived by his wife Jackie, his five children: George, Helen, Anne, Christine and Dominique, many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his sister Helen.
According to their wishes, private memorial service will be held for family and close friends, and the ashes of Jim and Colette will be spread over the Pacific Ocean.
“He flew the airplanes they asked him to fly and flew them where he was asked to go with skill and courage.”
— Lieutenant General Harry Edgar Goldsworthy
