On this day in aviation history, 110 years ago (July 13, 1915), legendary American fighter pilot David Lee “Tex” Hill was born. A triple ace, Hill is officially credited with 12¼ aerial victories during his military career, which spanned World War II and the Korean War. He is best remembered as one of the elite American Volunteer Group (AVG) pilots—better known as the Flying Tigers. Hill’s story began in Gwangju, Korea, then under Japanese rule. He was born into a family of Presbyterian missionaries, the youngest of four children. When he was just 15 months old, the Hill family returned to the United States and settled in San Antonio, Texas.
He attended San Antonio Academy, graduating in 1928, and later enrolled at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he won the state middleweight boxing championship in 1934. Hill went on to graduate from Austin College in 1938. His passion for aviation took root early—his first flight occurred at Winburn Field when he and a friend skipped church and were taken for a ride in a Travel Air 4000 piloted by Marion P. Hair.
In 1938, Hill enlisted in the U.S. Navy and earned his wings as a Naval Aviator in November 1939. He initially flew Douglas TBD Devastators and Vought SB2U Vindicators with a dive-bomber squadron. In 1941, Hill was recruited alongside other Navy, Marine Corps, and Army pilots to join the American Volunteer Group in China. Flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk under the leadership of Claire Chennault, Hill quickly distinguished himself as one of the top aces of the AVG.
He scored his first two kills on January 3, 1942, downing a pair of Nakajima Ki-27 “Nate” fighters over Tak, Thailand. By February, he had reached ace status. When the Flying Tigers were disbanded in the summer of 1942, “Tex” Hill had achieved double-ace status with 12¼ confirmed victories. In 1944, he was appointed commander of the 412th Fighter Group—the U.S. military’s first operational jet fighter unit—flying the Bell P-59 Airacomet and Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star.
During the Korean War era, Hill continued to serve with the Texas Air National Guard and ultimately retired as a brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. His valor and leadership earned him numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Medal. David Lee “Tex” Hill passed away on October 11, 2007, at the age of 92. His legacy as one of America’s most accomplished and respected fighter pilots endures, and his story continues to inspire generations of aviators.
