Pierpont M. Hamilton - Subsequent Service

Subsequent Service

In December 1942 Hamilton became Intelligence and Air Officer for the North African Theater Advanced Headquarters at Algiers and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. The following month he was appointed Operations and Intelligence Staff Officer for the Northwest African Tactical Air Force. He returned to the United States in March 1943, was promoted to colonel on October 26, and after various assignments at AAF Headquarters in Washington and with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was relieved from active duty in March 1946.

In February 1947 he returned to active-duty with the Plans and Operations Division of the War Department General Staff. After the AAF became the United States Air Force, Hamilton was assigned to Headquarters USAF in the Office of Director of Plans and Operations. He became chief of the Air Force Policy Division in August 1948 and was promoted to brigadier general on December 21. He served with the United States Air Forces in Europe in both Wiesbaden and Paris in 1951, then returned to Washington D.C. for duty with the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. Hamilton left active duty on March 31, 1952.

He resided in Montecito, California, and continued service in the Air Force Reserve, resuming duties with the Policy Division. Promoted to major general on June 20, 1955, he completed the Reserve and National Guard General Officer Orientation Course at the Air War College in 1957.

Following his military retirement in 1959, Hamilton held a number of civilian business positions, including an association with Electronic Products Corporation of Santa Barbara, California and as an executive with the Santa Barbara Bank & Trust until 1979, when his health deteriorated. Hamilton was admitted to the VA Wadsworth Medical Center in Los Angeles and died at age 83. Hamilton was buried in Santa Barbara Cemetery, Santa Barbara, California.