Famed Flying Tiger Tex Hill Dies:

Retired Air National Guard Brig. Gen. David Lee “Tex” Hill died Oct. 11 at age 92 at his home in San Antonio. Born to missionary parents in Korea on July 13, 1915, Hill grew up in San Antonio, attending a series of military schools and graduating from Austin College in 1938, determined to enter military aviation. Turned down by the Army Air Corps, he won his Navy aviator wings in 1939 and flew the TBD-1 torpedo airplane and SB2U dive-bomber before joining the newly formed American Volunteer Group in China. He would go on to score 12 aerial victories, flying the P-40 with the Flying Tigers before the unit deactivated. Hill accepted a commission as a major in the Army Air Forces, remaining in China to activate the 75th Fighter Squadron and later serve as commander of the 23rd Fighter Group. Now flying the P-51, he scored another six aerial victories, officially making him an AAF ace. Hill resigned his commission in 1946, but he soon joined the Air National Guard, becoming the youngest brigadier general in its history. He retired in 1968. The National Aviation Hall of Fame inducted Hill in 2006 “for courageous leadership and service to his country.” Walter Boyne captured his legendary actions in a July 2002 Air Force Magazine article “Tex.”