[August 18, 2015] Many boys from my generation grew up building model airplanes; one of the most popular being the P-40E Curtiss Warhawk painted in a green and tan camouflage pattern with the famous “shark mouth” nose art and Chinese Air Force insignia on its wings. David Lee “Tex” Hill, flew one of these P-40Es and was one of the original fighter pilots of the famed Flying Tigers located in China before the United States entered the war. Today we honor “Tex” as a true hero for his exploits in combat during World War II and Korea.
“Tex” was a fighter; just like we want our American troops to be in battle. He was an ace with confirmed 18.25 Japanese aircraft kills to his credit (the .25 was because of an assisted kill with three other pilots). His most dramatic combat was on May 7, 19452 when the Japanese Army began building bridges across the Salween River preparing for a major offensive against the Chinese Army. “Tex” lead a squadron of P40Es bombing and strafing into a mile deep gorge.1
Over the next four days, his pilots flew continuous missions into the gorge, effectively neutralizing the Japanese forces. From that day on, the Japanese army never advanced farther into China. General Claire Chennault would later write of these critical missions that “the American Volunteer Group had staved off China’s collapse on the Salween.”
After the United States entered the war in late 1941, the Flying Tigers were deactivated. “Tex” was one of five of the original Tigers to join its successor, the United States Army Air Forces. He left active service in 1945 as a Colonel and was later promoted to Brigadier General in the Texas National Guard. He has the honor of being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star.
“Tex” Hill is truly a real American hero. We salute him for the example he set for other leaders to follow during both war and peace.
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