Born: 12/20/1918
Died: 03/31/2000
Inducted: 10/16/1999
A Waukesha, Wisconsin native, Collins Ferris
completed pilot training in 1940, entered the Army Air Corps at the
start of World War II, and piloted A-26 aircraft in 32 combat
missions over Europe. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross,
Air Medal with five Oak Leaves and the French Croix de Guerre.
After World War II,
Ferris completed law school in Madison, Wisconsin and practiced law
until he returned to active duty with the Air Force during the
Korean conflict.
After
Korea, General Ferris became the first Chief of Staff of the
Wisconsin Air National Guard. In the eighteen years of his tenure,
the Air Guard progressed from a young, inexperienced unit flying
P-51s to a mature military force flying KC-97 tankers and F-102
fighter jets. He retired in 1970 after 30 years of military service.
For his work as the first Chief of Staff, Collins Ferris can
justifiably be called the "father" of the Wisconsin Air
National Guard.
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Major General Collins H Ferris,
WI Air National Guard
(Photo courtesy WIANG)
Douglas A-26 Invader
(WAHF photo)
Wisconsin Air National Guard logo
(Courtesy WIANG)
Bud Jensen (left) and Collins Ferris
at his 1999 induction ceremony
(WAHF photo by Jim Martin)
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