Famous Flying Tiger Ace Dies
Release No.
10-03-07
Famous Flying
Tiger ace dies
SAN ANTONIO
(AFRNS) -- Famous Flying Tigers ace and Texas Air National
Guardsman Brig. Gen. David Lee "Tex'' Hill died Oct. 11 of
congestive heart failure at his home here. He was 92. The general
is scheduled for burial at
General Hill
flew with Gen. Claire Chennault as a member of the Flying Tigers, a
volunteer group of American aviators who flew during World War II to
defend
He served as
both flight leader and then squadron leader of the 2nd Squadron,
flying the Curtis P-40 fighter with the distinctive shark's teeth
paint scheme on the nose of the plane. During his time as a Flying
Tiger pilot, he was credited with 12 aerial victories.
When the
Flying Tigers were disbanded in July, 1942, General Hill continued
to fly, eventually commanding the 23rd Fighter Group. By the time
he left active duty, he was a triple-ace, credited with some 18
confirmed aerial victories.
In 1946, he
joined the Texas Air National Guard as the youngest brigadier
general in the history of the Air Guard. He was 31.
"Tex Hill has
forgotten more about leadership and what's important than most of us
will ever know," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of
staff. (Courtesy of Air Force Print News)