World War II Heroes I had the good fortune to meet at the Alamo Squadron contest in San Antonio in 2005.

David Lee "Tex" Hill

"Flying Tigers - Volunteer Group"

American Volunteer Group

He was recruited in 1941 to serve in the Claire Chennault’s American Volunteer Group (AVG). He reported in July and served as flight leader and then squadron leader of the 2nd Squadron, flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

In his service with the Flying Tigers, he was credited with destroying 10.25 Japanese planes, one of the top aces of that famous unit.

His first victories came on January 3, 1942, when he downed two Ki-27 Nates over the Japanese airfield at Tak, Thailand. He claimed two more on the 23rd, and "made ace" on the 24th, when he shot down a bomber and a fighter over Rangoon. In March, he succeeded Jack Newkirk as Squadron Leader of the Second Squadron.

On May 7th, 1942, the Japanese Army began building a pontoon bridge across the Salween River, which would allow them to move troops and supplies into China. To stem this tide, 2nd Squadron Leader David Lee "Tex" Hill led a flight of four new P-40Es, bombing and strafing into the mile deep gorge. During the next four days, the AVG pilots flew continuous missions into the gorge, effectively neutralizing the Japanese forces. From that day on, the Japanese never advanced farther than the west bank of the Salween. Claire Chennault would later write of these critical missions, "The American Volunteer Group had staved off China's collapse on the Salween."

USAAF

After the deactivation of the Flying Tigers in July 1942, Hill was one of only five Flying Tigers to join its USAAF successor, the 23rd Fighter Group. He was promoted to major in the Army Air Corps, and activated the 75th Fighter Squadron and later to command the 23rd Fighter Group.

Before returning to the states in late 1944, "Tex" Hill and his P-51 Mustang scratched another six Japanese aircraft. It is believed that he was the first to down a Zero with a P-51. Altogether, Hill destroyed 18.25 enemy aircraft.

On Thanksgiving Day 1943, he led a force of 12 B-25s, 10 P-38s, and 8 new P-51 Mustangs from Saichwan, China, on the first strike against Formosa. The Japanese had 100 bombers and 100 fighters located at Shimchiku Airfield, and the bombers were landing as "Tex" Hill’s force arrived. The enemy managed to get seven fighters airborne, but they were promptly shot down. Forty-two Japanese airplanes were destroyed and 12 more were probably destroyed in the attack. The American force returned home with no casualties.

During the closing months of World War II, Hill commanded the 412th Fighter Group, the first jet unit in the Army Air Forces. The group flew the Bell XP-59 and later the Lockheed P-80.

Post War

In July 1946, "Tex" Hill resigned his commission and left active duty. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Air National Guard and became the youngest brigadier general in the history of that service. He retired from the military in 1968.

Colonel Hill's honors include: Nationalist Chinese Order of the Cloud Banner, Chinese Victory Medal, British Distinguished Flying Cross, U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross,  2 Air Medals,  Silver Star, and  Legion of Merit.  

Taken from www.acepilots.com

Richard E. Cole

Mr. Cole was Col. James Doolittle’s co-pilot when he led 16 B-25 bombers in a raid over Tokyo on April 18, 1942.

Doolittle Raid on Japan, 18 April 1942

The April 1942 air attack on Japan, launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet and led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle, was the most daring operation yet undertaken by the United States in the young Pacific War. Though conceived as a diversion that would also boost American and allied morale, the raid generated strategic benefits that far outweighed its limited goals.

The raid had its roots in a chance observation that it was possible to launch Army twin-engined bombers from an aircraft carrier, making feasible an early air attack on Japan. Appraised of the idea in January 1942, U.S. Fleet commander Admiral Ernest J. King and Air Forces leader General Henry H. Arnold greeted it with enthusiasm. Arnold assigned the technically-astute Doolittle to organize and lead a suitable air group. The modern, but relatively well-tested B-25B "Mitchell" medium bomber was selected as the delivery vehicle and tests showed that it could fly off a carrier with a useful bomb load and enough fuel to hit Japan and continue on to airfields in China.

Gathering volunteer air crews for an unspecified, but admittedly dangerous mission, Doolittle embarked on a vigorous program of special training for his men and modifications to their planes. The new carrier Hornet was sent to the Pacific to undertake the Navy's part of the mission. So secret was the operation that her Commanding Officer, Captain Marc A. Mitscher, had no idea of his ship's upcoming employment until shortly before sixteen B-25s were loaded on her flight deck. On 2 April 1942 Hornet put to sea and headed west across the vast Pacific.

Joined in mid-ocean on 13 April by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship Enterprise, which would provide air cover during the approach, Hornet steamed toward a planned 18 April afternoon launching point some 400 miles from Japan. However, before dawn on 18 April, enemy picket boats were encountered much further east than expected. These were evaded or sunk, but got off radio warnings, forcing the planes to take off around 8 AM, while still more than 600 miles out.

Most of the sixteen B-25s, each with a five-man crew, attacked the Tokyo area, with a few hitting Nagoya. Damage to the intended military targets was modest, and none of the planes reached the Chinese airfields (though all but a few of their crewmen survived). However, the Japanese high command was deeply embarrassed. Three of the eight American airmen they had captured were executed. Spurred by Combined Fleet commander Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, they also resolved to eliminate the risk of any more such raids by the early destruction of America's aircraft carriers, a decision that led them to disaster at the Battle of Midway a month and a half later.

Taken from U.S Navy archives at: www.history.navy.mil

Various Ace's from WWII and Korea.

Veterans at the IPMS 2005 Nationals

I was honored with the opportunity to meet these world War II veterans at the IPMS National competition.  They gave a round table discussion on the D-Day landings as it related to their participation.  Afterwards I was able to meet them and talk at length with hem about their experiences in the hallway as we were all milling around.  It was an impressive experience and one I will not soon forget.  Not many of the "Greatest Generation" are left.  I am very happy that I had the chance to meet these great men.

Carl Beck

Carl Beck was a heavy machine gunner with the 101st Airborne.  He jumped into Normandy and fought the rest of the war to its completion.  Recipient of the PUrple Heart for injuries sustained from a grenade, Mr. Beck is an extremely nice guy who is quick to drop a story.  He has jumped back into Normandy on 55th anniversary of D-Day and jumped again for the 60th.  His machine gun position outside of a Dutch town was the first point of contact on a German assault.  He estimates he killed over 40-50 Germans before his ammo ran out and he and his spotter had to retreat further back into he line for more ammo.

Rev. Ewell Black

Rev. Black was a member of the 106th that was sent to the left flank in the Ardennes Forest.  A whole company of raw recruits with no combat experience, the left flank was deemed secure.  Their recon reports of tank and troop movement went unheeded and when the attack came they were over run.  They managed to hold on for about 24 hours with over 75% combat losses.  On the second attack, the Germans drove through the one mile gaps in their line and surrounded them.   They were told to make to a small town and meet up with a British armored group who would take them to safety.  Upon arriving at the town, the British were long gone and the Germans captured them with little fight.  He became a P.O.W. in early Dec. and was re-patriated in late April. In his captivity, they were bombed unknowingly 4 times by the Allies.  He survived, went back to his family in Alabama.  Just prior to his return to Europe the President passed a bill stating that no P.O.W.s were required to return to the military.  Mr. Black became a Reverend in 1959.  He is a quiet man who is very intelligent.  He has many stories of captivity which he is willing to tell.

Richard Sanders

Mr. Sanders was a Royal Marine who served as an engineer aboard an LCM landing craft during the D-Day invasion.   He served in Britain in a Boy's Brigade until he joined the military at 17 after lying about his age.  He now resides in Atlanta and is an honorary member of the 101st Airborne Veterans Association.  Mr. Sanders was involved in the attempted crossing of 16 LCM's across the English Channel.  Caught by a storm that wasn't made aware to them, they fought the sea for most of the night, spreading out and out of sight.  Upon sun rise they were relieved to see land.  As they got closer, they saw mayhem and destruction as they had returned to the invasion beaches, blown there by the storm.  Of the 16 LCMs who left the previous afternoon, 3 survived.  Mr. Sanders is a friendly fellow, quick with a joke and is able to describe the bombings of Britain as well as the invasion of Normandy.