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Frank O’Driscoll Hunter

Frank O’Driscoll Hunter
Genfrankhunter-usaaf.jpg
Major General Frank O’Driscoll Hunter during World War II
Nickname(s) Monk
Born (1894-12-08)December 8, 1894
Savannah, Georgia
Died June 25, 1982(1982-06-25) (aged 87)
Savannah, Georgia
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch US Army Air Corps Hap Arnold Wings.svg United States Army Air Force
Years of service 1917–1919, 1920–1946
Rank US-O8 insignia.svg Major General
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. 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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