Gen Tex Hill Autograph WWII Flying Tigers Rare Color Combat Mission Photo 8x10"

Description: Gen Tex Hill Autograph WWII Flying Tigers Rare Color Combat Mission Photo 8x10" Brigadier General David Lee "Tex" Hill, Retired Few American pilots have had as exciting career as American Fighter Ace Brigadier General David Lee "Tex" Hill. Born July 13, 1915 in Kwangju, Korea of missionary parents, David L. "Tex" Hill graduated from San Antonio Academy, San Antonio, Texas in 1928 and from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1934. He then attended Texas A&M for two years before transferring to Austin College, from which he graduated in 1938. Tex entered the U.S. Navy, graduating as a Naval Aviator from Pensacola in 1939. He then served on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga as a torpedo-bomber pilot for a year before transferring to the East Coast to the USS Ranger as a dive-bomber pilot. He was recruited out of the Navy in early 1941 to join the American Volunteer Group, known as the original "Flying Tigers." Tex served as flight leader and later squadron leader of the 2nd Squadron until it was disbanded in July 1942. He became the second-highest ranking ace in the American Volunteer Group with 12 1/4 victories. He was one of five pilots and twenty-seven ground personnel who volunteered to remain in China and accept commissions in the U.S. Army Air Corps to activate the 23rd Fighter Group. Given a spot commission to Major, Tex activated the 75th Fighter Squadron known as the Flying Tiger Sharks as its squadron commander earning the name "Shark One." Lt. Col. Hill returned to the U.S. in December 1942 and commanded the Proving Ground Group at Elgin Field, Florida. In October 1943, Colonel "Tex” Hill returned to China at the request of General Chennealt to command the 23rd Fighter Group and subsequently added six more victories to his score for a total of 18 1/4 confirmed kills. After his return to the U.S. in November 1944 he was assigned to command the 412th Fighter Group, which was the first jet aircraft group in the U.S. Air Force. Leaving active duty in July 1946 Tex joined the Texas Air National Guard. He was appointed Brigadier General in command of the 58th Fighter Wing, the youngest one-star general in the history of the Guard. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations. He was also decorated by the Chinese government six times and was presented the British Distinguished Flying Cross by Lord Halifax. He is the past President of the American Volunteer Group Association, a director and past President of the American Fighter Aces Association and is a past National Vice-Commander of the Order of the Daedalians. He is a 33rd Degree Mason. In 1933, Tex received the Outdoorsman of the Year Award and in 1995 he received the Humanitarian Award from the San Antonio Academy and was named Warbird of the Year. In 1996, he was designated a Distinguished Alumnus of Austin College and in 1997 was inducted into the Confederate Air Force's Combat Airman Hall of Fame. In 1998, Tex was selected as an Eagle for the Gathering of Eagles at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio and received the Lloyd Nolen Lifetime Achievement in Aviation Award. He has been selected as an Eagle six times for the Gathering of Eagles at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. In 1999 he was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. He is honored frequently at major air shows throughout the country. 8x10" photo does have white border edges but will not have the watermark. Includes story card and COA. $4.25 USPS shipping

Price: 39.99 USD

Location: Hudson, Wisconsin

End Time: 2024-11-13T02:14:00.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.25 USD