I. C. Eaker

Eaker, Ira Clarence (1896–1987), a United States air force officer. He directed the bombing of Germany by the 8th Air Force during World War II. After the war, he served as chief of the air staff of the U.S. Army and helped establish the U.S. Air Force as a separate military service. Eaker was born in Llano County, Texas. He joined the army in 1917. In 1936 he became the first pilot to fly blind (by instruments) across the United States. He retired in 1947 as a lieutenant general.