High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Ralph Francis Stearley (July 25, 1898 - February 3, 1973) was a United States Army and Air Force officer from 1918 until 1973. He is best known as a general in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Stearly was born at Brazil, Indiana, in 1898. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the cavalry on November 1, 1918. In March 1925 he was transferred to the United States Army Air Corps and went to Brooks Field, Texas, for training. In September of that year he was transferred to Kelly Field, Texas, where he attended the Advanced Flying School. Upon graduation in March 1926, he remained at Kelly Field for duty with the Third Attack Group.