Hilger

John A. Hilger, 0-20437, Brigadier General

Pilot Crew 14 

Born January 11, 1909, Sherman, Texas
Died February 3, 1982

Graduated from Sherman High School in June 1926 and attended Texas A&M College in College Station Texas, graduating with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1932. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry, he resigned the commission to enter the Army Air Corps as a Flying Cadet in February 1933. Received wings and was placed on active duty as a Flying Cadet in February 1934. Was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in February 1935.  Was commanding officer of the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron when the Tokyo Raid was planned. After the raid, he returned to the China-Burma-India Theater as a commander of a Bomb Group. During the last 18 months of the war, he served on the staff of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Area. Attended Air Was College and National War College and served in various operational and staff assignments. During Korean War, was commander of 307th Bomb Wing located on Okinawa. Also served in Turkey and Norway. Was assigned Chief of Staff, Air Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Retired August 1966. Decorations include Silver Star, Legion of Merit with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Chinese Order of Yung Hui, 4th Class.

Cremated
Ashes scattered off the coast of Newport Beach, CA

Inducted Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, Galveston, TX