Frank O'Driscoll Hunter
| Frank O’Driscoll Hunter | |
|---|---|
Major General Frank O’Driscoll Hunter during World War II
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| Nickname(s) | Monk |
| Born |
December 8, 1894 Savannah, Georgia |
| Died | June 25, 1982 (aged 87) Savannah, Georgia |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/ |
 United States Army Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1917–1919, 1920–1946 |
| Rank |
 Major General
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| Unit |
103rd Aero Squadron 1st Pursuit Group |
| Commands held |
94th Aero Squadron 95th Pursuit Squadron 17th Pursuit Group 79th Pursuit Squadron VIII Fighter Command First Air Force |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Cross (5) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart CBE |
| Other work | Rose to Major General during World War II |
Frank O. Hunter began his military career as a World War I flying ace, being credited by the United States Army Air Service with downing nine enemy aircraft. Hunter became an advocate of fighter aircraft strategy and tactics. In World War II he served as commanding general of the VIII Fighter Command and, later, the First Air Force.
Hunter was born in Savannah, Georgia. He was educated at Hotchkiss School, Connecticut, and in Lausanne, Switzerland. He enlisted in the Aviation Section, Signal Reserve, as a flying cadet on May 18, 1917.
He went to France in September 1917 and received further training at the 3rd Aviation Instruction Center at Issoudun, France. Assigned to the 103rd Aero Squadron in May 1918, on his first combat patrol Hunter downed two German planes and landed safely despite being wounded. By the end of the war he had nine German planes to his credit, earning him recognition as an ace. Hunter was the last pilot remaining with the squadron before its return to the United States, transferring out on January 24, 1919.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with four oak leaf clusters, more than any person other than Eddie Rickenbacker who received six oak leaf clusters to the DSC. His achievements in aerial combat earned him the French Croix de Guerre with palm. He left the Army for a short time after the war, but returned with a commission in the Regular Army Air Service in 1920.
When he entered the Regular Army in 1920 he attended Field Artillery School and Air Service Observation School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He graduated in September 1921 and transferred to Ellington Field, Texas, for duty with the 1st Pursuit Group. In July 1922, he went to Selfridge Field, Michigan, as Commanding Officer of the 94th Squadron, and in October 1922, entered the Air Service Tactical School at Langley Field, Virginia, returning to his command of the 94th Squadron when he graduated in June 1923. In July 1925 he became Operations Officer of Selfridge Field.
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Wikipedia