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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Jan. 10, 1904
Professor of Air Science Doubles As Jet Pilot
By Marshall Caskey
KU's flying professor, Lt. Col.
Gerald E. Hallas, U.S.A.F. doubles
as professor of air science and jet
pilot.
As a professor, Col. Hallas is responsible to the University for the academic standards of the Air Force R.O.T.C. classes. As an Air Force officer, he is responsible to Air Force R.O.T.C. headquarters for carrying out the mission of the officers training program at KU.
Col. Hallas, 42, is the picture of a military man. His erect, military posture demonstrates the effect his military career has had upon him.
Col. Hallas also keeps in practice as a pilot. He flies a jet 120 hours a' year.
HIS OFFICE in the Military Science building is a typical military office. Pictures of the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and various high-ranking officers adorn the walls of the room.
In a prominent position in Col Hallas' office is a large, transparent globe.
Seated at his large desk, Col. Hallas looks like the man he is—the man in charge.
He was born in Omaha in 1922. He attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, and later transferred to the University of Southern California, where he received an A.B. degree in psychology.
WHEN COL. Hallas was graduated from college, the United States had entered World War II, and he joined the Army Air Force as an aviation cadet.
After completing his training as an aviation cadet, Col. Hallas underwent training as a "nightfighter." flying P-61 and P-70 fighter planes. In 1944-45, he flew a combat tour over China. This tour involved 40 night intruder attack missions against Japanese troop concentrations, motor convoys and railways.
"We had cannons and rockets on the P-61." Col. Hallas recalls, "and sometimes we carried napalm bombs. It was one of the regular old field operations—with tents to live in and dirt airstrips.
"IN FLYING the missions, we occasionally ran into ground anti-aircraft fire. It was generally small caliber stuff and we didn't get any really serious damage other than a few holes in the planes," Col. Hallas said.
Lt. Col. Hallas
After the war, Col. Hallas was stationed at Hamilton Field, California, in one of the only two old "nightfighters" squadrons which existed after the war ended.
In 1948 and 1949 came the Berlin Airlift, and Col. Hallas flew 175 missions into Berlin in a C-54 cargo plane.
AFTER THE Berlin missions, he was stationed at Furston Feldbruck Air Base near Munich. During this tour of duty, he checked out in the F-80 fighter plane—his first experience with iet aircraft.
At the outbreak of the Korean conflict, Col. Hallas was involved in the air defense of Chicago.
"The air defense concept," Col Hallas said, "was actually an outgrowth of the old 'Nightfighters.'"
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In 1954, Col. Hallas was transferred to the Pentagon where he was involved with Air Defense Fighter Operations. In this capacity, he worked at "formulating air defense policy worldwide—policy, plans and programs."
AT THE PENTAGON, Col. Hallas worked with the plans for the then top-secret F-102, F-106, F-101 fighter planes. He also worked with plans for the MB-1 atomic rocket, the Falcon missile and launch facilities for air defense equipment.
In 1958, Col. Hallas went to Colorado Springs, Colo., where he was Project Officer for Operations in connection with the F-108 long-range interceptor.
In 1960, just before coming to KU, Col. Hallas entered what he describes as the "most challenging" work of his career. He was transferred to Korea, where he became advisor to the 11th Fighter Wing of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). "The wing," Col. Hallas said, "was just activated when I arrived in Korea. We trained the Korean fliers and brought the wing up to combat-ready status."
IN 1931, Col. Hellas moved up to the position of Director of Operations for the entire military advisory group in Korea. He served in this
position until 1962 when he was transferred to KU.
Col. Hallas said he is impressed with the responsibility of the Air Force R.O.T.C. detachment at KU.
"The administration at KU." Col.
Hallas said, "supports the military programs. The various officials of the University are aware of the importance of keeping a military force in being, and they are most cooperative with us."
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