David Lee "Tex" Hill
| David Lee Hill | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tex |
| Born |
July 13, 1915 Kwangju, Korea |
| Died | October 11, 2007 (aged 92) Terrell Hills, Texas |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America Republic of China
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy Republic of China Air Force United States Army Air Forces Air National Guard
|
| Years of service | 1939–1968 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | 1st American Volunteer Group, 23rd Fighter Group |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Order of the Cloud and Banner (China) Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) |
David Lee "Tex" Hill (July 13, 1915 – October 11, 2007) was a fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II, with later service in Korea.
He was born in Kwangju, Korea, the son of Presbyterian missionaries, but raised in Texas. "Tex" graduated from San Antonio Academy, San Antonio, Texas, in 1928 and from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1934. Tex then attended Texas A&M for two years before transferring to Austin College, from which he graduated in 1938. He was also a founding member of the Phi Sigma Alpha fraternity in 1932.
Hill earned his wings as a U.S. Naval Aviator in 1939 and joined the fleet as a TBD Devastator torpedo bomber pilot aboard the USS Saratoga before joining a Vought SB2U Vindicator dive bomber squadron aboard USS Ranger. In 1941, he was recruited with other Navy, Army and Marine Corps pilots to join the 1st American Volunteer Group (better known by its later nickname of the Flying Tigers). He learned to fly the P-40 in the AVG training program in Burma, and did well as a fighter pilot in the 2nd Pursuit Squadron (Panda Bear) as a flight leader and then squadron commander, becoming one of the top aces under the tutelage of Claire Chennault.
Hill landed his first kills on January 3, 1942 when he downed two Nates over the Japanese airfield at Tak, Thailand. He shot down two more on January 23, and became an ace on the 24th when he shot down a fighter and a bomber over Rangoon. In March, he succeeded Jack Newkirk as Squadron Leader of the Second Squadron. By the time the AVG was disbanded in the summer of 1942, Hill was a double ace, credited with 12 ¼ victories.
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