Major General Andrew S. Low, Jr. US Air Force (Ret) (1917-2000)

A Westerly native, Low enlisted in the Rhode Island National Guard in 1936 and graduated from West Point in 1942. He became a multi-engine instructor pilot and flew 16 B-24 missions before being shot down over Germany in 1944. He was liberated in April, 1945 after 273 days of captivity.  Low stayed in the service after the war, serving in many top positions including Strategic Air Command representative at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe. He later commanded the 40th Bombardment Wing, and capped off his military career as director of aerospace programs for the Air Force. In that capacity he drove the first 747 off Boeing’s assembly line. After retiring from the military in 1971, General Low continued his service to his country by teaching at military bases through America and Europe until he retired again in 1987.