William Lee Hill

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Major

William L. Hill
William L. Hill.jpeg
William L. Hill
Birth nameWilliam Lee Hill
Nickname(s)Dubie
Born Huntington, West Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Force
Years of service1943-1964
RankMajor
Unit
Awards

William "Dubie" Lee Hill (1920-1981) was an American military aviator who served during World War II as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Hill was shot down twice during WWII, [1] and he has been given credit for shooting down one enemy plane. [2]

Contents

Early life

Hill grew up in Huntington, West Virginia and had one sister named Lilian.[ citation needed ]

Military service

The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails." Tuskegee P-51.jpg
The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."

Hill graduated on 5 December 1943 . [4] He received his "wings" and was sent to the Tuskegee. He had the rank of flight officer and he received his wings from the Tuskegee Institute and he was assigned to the 332d Fighter Group. [5] [6]

Hill was shot down twice and he suffered severe burns to his body and his face. [1]

A member of the 302nd Fighter Squadron, Hill is credited with shooting down an enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 on August 23, 1944. [2] Hill was escorting B-24 Liberator bombers to Markersdorf, Germany when his escort mission encountered 14 Bf 109s. One of the B-24 bombers was said to be shot down on that mission. [5]

Hill continued in active service after the war and in 1947 he was trained as a meteorologist, and served two additional tours overseas. He achieved the rank of major and then retired in 1964 from Grand Forks Air Force Base. [7]

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

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Walter L. McCreary

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Alexandersen, Christian (May 18, 2009). "Local Tuskegee Airmen honored". Herald Dispatch. HD Media Company, LLC. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Erica (September 26, 2009). "Aerial victory credits for the Tuskegee Airmen". STLtoday.com. Saint Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  3. ↑ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  4. ↑ "List of Pilot Graduates". Tuskegee.edu. Tuskegee University. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  5. 1 2 Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. NewSouth Books. p. 179. ISBN   9781588382443 . Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Tuskegees Latest Graduates with Wings and Commissions". Cleveland, Call and Post. December 25, 1943. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  7. ↑ Cole, Ronald H. (2006). "Air Power History" (PDF). Black History. 53 (2): 29. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  8. ↑ "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.

Notes

  1. ↑ The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces. [3]
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