James E. Hill
Encyclopedia
General James E. Hill was a World War II flying ace, U.S. Air Force General, and commander in chief of the North American Air Defense Command and the U.S. Air Force Aerospace Defense Command, with consolidated headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base
, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
. He graduated from Stillwater High School and then attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma
. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in March 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon completing pilot training in February 1943.
In December 1943 Hill was assigned to the European theater of operations as a P-47 Thunderbolt
fighter pilot. He become a World War II ace, credited with five enemy aircraft shot down while flying 127 combat missions. He returned to the United States in September 1945 and was released from active duty in December 1945. He then became the commander of a P-51 Mustang
squadron in the Oklahoma Air National Guard
.
In November 1948 Hill returned to active duty and served as a flight commander with the 3525th Pilot Training Wing, Williams Air Force Base
, Arizona. In August 1950 he was transferred to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Itazuke Air Base, Japan, and began flying combat missions in Korea. He later joined Headquarters Fifth Air Force
, Osan Air Base
, Korea, where he served as operations officer and chief, Fighter Operations Division, Directorate of Operations. He flew 128 combat missions as an F-80
pilot, downing one enemy aircraft.
Hill returned to the United States in September 1951 and was reassigned to the 3525th Pilot Training Wing as an operations and training staff officer. He transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina
in January 1952 for duty with the Joint Tactical Air Support Board.
In April 1953 he departed for England to attend the Royal Air Force Flying College at Royal Air Force Station Manby as an exchange officer. Upon graduation, General Hill joined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield, England, and served as an operations staff officer and assistant director of operations for 10 months. In February 1955 he was transferred to the 79th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England, where he served as squadron and base commander. In May 1956 he rejoined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing and served as director of operations and as deputy commander.
Hill returned to the United States in July 1957 and was assigned as senior Air Force adviser for the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard
, at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. From August 1960 to August 1963, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, in the Directorate of Manpower and Organization, as chief of Contract Services Branch, and later served as deputy chief of Organizational Requirements Division.
He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
during 1963-64, and was awarded a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Maryland
in 1964. In August 1964 General Hill went to Clark Air Base
, Republic of the Philippines, where he was deputy commander for operations of the 405th Fighter Wing; in September 1964 he became commander of the wing; and in January 1966 was reassigned on base to Headquarters Thirteenth Air Force
as deputy chief of staff, plans and operations.
General Hill returned to the United States in July 1966 and commanded the 3615th Pilot Training Wing, Craig Air Force Base
, Alabama. In July 1967 he was assigned as commander of the 40th Air Division
at Wurtsmith Air Force Base
, Michigan, and in June 1968 he assumed command of the 825th Strategic Aerospace Division at Little Rock Air Force Base
, Arkansas. In January 1970 he became commander of the 42d Air Division, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas.
General Hill was named deputy assistant to the secretary of defense (Atomic Energy) in July 1971. He remained in that post until June 1972 when he was transferred to the United Kingdom as commander of the Third Air Force
. In November 1973 he returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force to be assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations.
In September 1974 General Hill was assigned as commander in chief, Alaskan Command
, with additional duty as commander, Alaskan North American Air Defense Region, with headquarters at Elmendorf Air Force Base
, Alaska. He became commander of Alaskan Air Command after dissolution of ALCOM and assimilation of its responsibilities by AAC in July 1975.
General Hill was transferred during October 1976 to Barksdale Air Force Base
, Louisiana, where, as commander of Eighth Air Force
, he was responsible for all Strategic Air Command
operations and bases in the eastern half of the United States. General Hill was vice commander in chief, SAC Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base
, Nebraska from July 1 to December 6, 1977, when he assumed command of NORAD, and was promoted to the grade of general on December 21, 1977. Hill retired on December 31, 1979, and in retirement was President of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. Hill died on May 20, 1999 and was buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery
.
, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star
, Legion of Merit
with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross
with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal
with 40 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, French Croix de Guerre
, and Belgian Croix de Guerre.
to an outstanding individual who has distinguished himself/herself through lifetime contributions to the welfare or betterment of humankind through the exploration, development and use of space, or the use of space technology, information, themes or resources in academic, cultural, industrial or other pursuits of broad benefit to humanity. Gen. Hill was the chairman of the Space Foundation from 1986 - 1999.
Recipients include:
2012 Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr.
, USAF, (Retired)
2011 Dr. Charles Elachi
, Ph.D.
2010 CAPT John Young (astronaut), USN, (Retired).
2009 The Honorable Peter B. Teets
;
2008 Hans Mark
, Ph.D.;
2007 Simon Ramo
, Ph.D.;
2006 Buzz Aldrin
, Ph.D.;
2005 The Honorable Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.;
2004 The late Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Retired);
2003 Capt. James A. Jim Lovell
, Jr., USN (Retired);
2002 Norman R. Augustine.
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Biography
Hill was born in 1921, in Stillwater, OklahomaStillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
. He graduated from Stillwater High School and then attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in March 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon completing pilot training in February 1943.
In December 1943 Hill was assigned to the European theater of operations as a P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
fighter pilot. He become a World War II ace, credited with five enemy aircraft shot down while flying 127 combat missions. He returned to the United States in September 1945 and was released from active duty in December 1945. He then became the commander of a P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
squadron in the Oklahoma Air National Guard
Oklahoma Air National Guard
The Oklahoma Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is, along with the Oklahoma Army National Guard, an element of the Oklahoma National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state...
.
In November 1948 Hill returned to active duty and served as a flight commander with the 3525th Pilot Training Wing, Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
, Arizona. In August 1950 he was transferred to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Itazuke Air Base, Japan, and began flying combat missions in Korea. He later joined Headquarters Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
, Korea, where he served as operations officer and chief, Fighter Operations Division, Directorate of Operations. He flew 128 combat missions as an F-80
P-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but...
pilot, downing one enemy aircraft.
Hill returned to the United States in September 1951 and was reassigned to the 3525th Pilot Training Wing as an operations and training staff officer. He transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
in January 1952 for duty with the Joint Tactical Air Support Board.
In April 1953 he departed for England to attend the Royal Air Force Flying College at Royal Air Force Station Manby as an exchange officer. Upon graduation, General Hill joined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield, England, and served as an operations staff officer and assistant director of operations for 10 months. In February 1955 he was transferred to the 79th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England, where he served as squadron and base commander. In May 1956 he rejoined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing and served as director of operations and as deputy commander.
Hill returned to the United States in July 1957 and was assigned as senior Air Force adviser for the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard
Ohio Air National Guard
The Ohio Air National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is composed of approximately 5,000 airmen and officers assigned to four flying wings and eight non-flying support units. OHANG units are based in Columbus,...
, at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. From August 1960 to August 1963, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, in the Directorate of Manpower and Organization, as chief of Contract Services Branch, and later served as deputy chief of Organizational Requirements Division.
He attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
during 1963-64, and was awarded a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1964. In August 1964 General Hill went to Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base
Clark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
, Republic of the Philippines, where he was deputy commander for operations of the 405th Fighter Wing; in September 1964 he became commander of the wing; and in January 1966 was reassigned on base to Headquarters Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
as deputy chief of staff, plans and operations.
General Hill returned to the United States in July 1966 and commanded the 3615th Pilot Training Wing, Craig Air Force Base
Craig Air Force Base
Craig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama, was a U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training base that closed in 1977. As an active air force base, Craig had two parallel runways, a large aircraft parking ramp and several large maintenance hangars....
, Alabama. In July 1967 he was assigned as commander of the 40th Air Division
40th Air Division
The 40th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifteenth Air Force, stationed at Malmstrom AFB, Montana...
at Wurtsmith Air Force Base
Wurtsmith Air Force Base
Wurtsmith Air Force Base is a decommissioned United States Air Force base in northeastern Iosco County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The former base includes located approximately two miles west of Lake Huron in the Charter Township of Oscoda, bordered by Van Ettan Lake, the Au Sable State...
, Michigan, and in June 1968 he assumed command of the 825th Strategic Aerospace Division at Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.-Overview:...
, Arkansas. In January 1970 he became commander of the 42d Air Division, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas.
General Hill was named deputy assistant to the secretary of defense (Atomic Energy) in July 1971. He remained in that post until June 1972 when he was transferred to the United Kingdom as commander of the Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
. In November 1973 he returned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force to be assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations.
In September 1974 General Hill was assigned as commander in chief, Alaskan Command
Alaskan Command
The Alaskan Command is a regional military command of the United States Armed Forces focusing on the state of Alaska. A sub-unified command of the United States Pacific Command, Alaskan Command is charged with maintaining air sovereignty, deploying forces for worldwide contingencies as directed by...
, with additional duty as commander, Alaskan North American Air Defense Region, with headquarters at Elmendorf Air Force Base
Elmendorf Air Force Base
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a United States military facility adjacent to Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. It is an amalgamation of the former United States Air Force Elmendorf Air Force Base and the United States Army Fort Richardson, which were merged in 2010.-Overview:The...
, Alaska. He became commander of Alaskan Air Command after dissolution of ALCOM and assimilation of its responsibilities by AAC in July 1975.
General Hill was transferred during October 1976 to Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base
Barksdale Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately east-southeast of Bossier City, Louisiana.The host unit at Barksdale is the 2d Bomb Wing , the oldest Bomb Wing in the Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force...
, Louisiana, where, as commander of Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, he was responsible for all Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
operations and bases in the eastern half of the United States. General Hill was vice commander in chief, SAC Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force installation near Omaha, and lies adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S...
, Nebraska from July 1 to December 6, 1977, when he assumed command of NORAD, and was promoted to the grade of general on December 21, 1977. Hill retired on December 31, 1979, and in retirement was President of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. Hill died on May 20, 1999 and was buried at the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery
United States Air Force Academy Cemetery
The United States Air Force Academy Cemetery is a cemetery at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Notable interments:* William J. Crawford, World War II Medal of Honor recipient...
.
Awards and decorations
He was a command pilot and wore the Master Missileman Badge. His military decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with three oak leaf clusters, Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with 40 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, French Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, and Belgian Croix de Guerre.
Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
Air Force Distinguished Service MedalAir Force Distinguished Service MedalThe Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel.The Air Force...
with oak leaf cluster
Silver StarSilver StarThe Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf clusters
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United States)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
with three oak leaf clusters
Air MedalAir MedalThe Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
with forty oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation MedalCommendation MedalThe Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
French Croix de Guerre with palm- Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm
Legacy
The General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award is presented annually by the Space FoundationSpace Foundation
The Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports the global space industry through information and education programs. It is a resource for the entire space community - industry, national security organizations, civil space agencies, private space companies and the military around the...
to an outstanding individual who has distinguished himself/herself through lifetime contributions to the welfare or betterment of humankind through the exploration, development and use of space, or the use of space technology, information, themes or resources in academic, cultural, industrial or other pursuits of broad benefit to humanity. Gen. Hill was the chairman of the Space Foundation from 1986 - 1999.
Recipients include:
2012 Gen. Thomas S. Moorman, Jr.
Thomas S. Moorman, Jr.
Thomas S. Moorman Jr. served as Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from July 1994 to August 1997.-Background:...
, USAF, (Retired)
2011 Dr. Charles Elachi
Charles Elachi
Charles Asshur Al-Wadad Elachi is the Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory , located in Pasadena, California. He has held this position since May 1, 2001 and also holds professorships in electrical engineering and planetary science at Caltech....
, Ph.D.
2010 CAPT John Young (astronaut), USN, (Retired).
2009 The Honorable Peter B. Teets
Peter B. Teets
Peter B. Teets was the thirteenth Director of the National Reconnaissance Office and the Under Secretary of the Air Force....
;
2008 Hans Mark
Hans Mark
Hans Michael Mark is a former Secretary of the Air Force and a former Deputy Administrator of NASA. He is an expert and consultant in aerospace design and national defense policy...
, Ph.D.;
2007 Simon Ramo
Simon Ramo
Simon "Si" Ramo is an American physicist, engineer, and business leader. He led development of microwave and missile technology and is sometimes known as the father of the intercontinental ballistic missile...
, Ph.D.;
2006 Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin is an American mechanical engineer, retired United States Air Force pilot and astronaut who was the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history...
, Ph.D.;
2005 The Honorable Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.;
2004 The late Gen. Bernard A. Schriever, USAF (Retired);
2003 Capt. James A. Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell
James "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., is a former NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission...
, Jr., USN (Retired);
2002 Norman R. Augustine.