Alfred A. Kessler, Jr.
August 3, 1898 – November 30, 1956
Major General Alfred A. Kessler Jr., retired commanding general of the Fourth Air Force died of a heart attack in Hamilton Air Force Base Hospital Friday night after an illness of several weeks. He was 58.
General Kessler directed the Western States Air Force reserve program from the Hamilton base until his retirement in January, 1955.
Born in Union Hill, New Jersey, he became an infantry lieutenant in World War I and soon afterwards resigned the commission to enter West Point, where he was graduated in 1922 as an Air Service officer.
In 1942 General Kessler left staff positions in Washington DC to organize B-17 bomber units at Geiger Field, Washington.
He became commander in 1943 of the 13th Combat Wing, which took part in the first shuttle bombing of Germany, an operation that involved flights from England to Germany, then North Africa.
His World War II service won him the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
From 1947 until assignment to Hamilton in September, 1952, General Kessler occupied a variety of major staff positions in the Pentagon.
His home was in the Fairhills district of San Rafael at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Polly Crane Kessler, and a son, Alfred A. Kessler III.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Hamilton Air Force Base Chapel where the general’s body will lie in state from 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. the same day. Arrangements are under the direction of Keaton’s Mortuary, San Rafael.
Interment will be in the Presidio National Cemetery.
The general’s family requested that donations be made to the National Heart Fund or to the Air Force Aid Society.