William E. Hill

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Second lieutenant

William E. Hill
William E. Hill Tuskegee Pilot died 1943.jpg
William E. Hill (1943)
Birth nameWilliam Edward Hill
Born(1923-07-31)July 31, 1923
Tappahannock, Essex County, Virginia,
DiedNovember 22, 1943(1943-11-22) (aged 20)
Lake Huron, Michigan
Buried
Riverside Cemetery in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island
41°26′32″N71°29′58″E / 41.442254°N 71.499316°E / 41.442254; 71.499316 Coordinates: 41°26′32″N71°29′58″E / 41.442254°N 71.499316°E / 41.442254; 71.499316
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Force
Years of service1942-1943
RankSecond lieutenant
Unit
Awards
Relations
Parents, William and Fannie, Sister Gloria

William E. Hill (July 31, 1923 - November 22, 1943) was an American aviator who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Hill died in 1943 after parachuting from his aircraft over Lake Huron. He is listed in the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame in the category of Special recognition. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

He was born in Tappahannock, Virginia and his parents were William and Fannie Esther (Née Monroe). He had one sister named Gloria. At an early age the family moved to Narragansett, Washington County, Rhode Island. He went to South Kingstown High School in Rhode Island and graduated in 1941. [2]

Military service

Bell P-39Q similar to the one Hill was flying in 1943 Bell P-39Q.jpg
Bell P-39Q similar to the one Hill was flying in 1943

On August 30, 1943 Hill was a graduate of the Tuskegee flight program. He was the first black pilot from Rhode Island. He was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. Shortly after graduation Hill was assigned to Oscada Michigan, for additional training. His Bell P-39Q Airacobra caught fire over Lake Huron and Hill attempted to parachute: his parachute covered him in the lake and his body was never found. [N 1] Even though his body was not recovered, his parents purchased a headstone and placed in Riverside Cemetery in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island. [2] There is speculation that his body lies in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. [4]

Awards

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Oscoda Michigan, 22 November 1943 9am, Hill parachuted into Lake Huron after his plane was on fire three to five miles east of Harrisville, Michigan. "Hill was not seen to clear himself of his parachute before the plane struck the water and the parachute sank about one minute after landing.” [1] [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 "2/LT William E. Hill". riahof.org. RI Aviation Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "2nd Lt. William E. Hill". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ↑ Francis, Charles E. (January 1, 1955). The Tuskegee Airmen; the Story of the Negro in the U.S. Air Force. Michigan: The University of Michigan. p. 207. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  4. ↑ Lusardi, Wayne R. "World War II Aircraft Lost in the Great Lakes". Ocean Expolrer. NOAA Ocean Exploration. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. April 11, 2006. Retrieved November 15, 2021.

Further reading

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