Born of missionary parents July 13, 1915, in Kwangju, Korea, Illustrious David Lee “Tex” Hill, 33°, graduated from San Antonio Academy, San Antonio, Texas, in 1928 and from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1934. He then attended Texas A&M for two years before transferring to Austin College, from which he graduated in 1938.

Illustrious Hill became a Naval Aviator in 1939 and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, as a torpedo-bomber pilot, then transferred to the USS Ranger as a dive-bomber pilot, and finally to the USS Yorktown as a dive-bomber pilot. He was recruited out of the Navy in early 1941 to join the American Volunteer Group, known as the original “Flying Tigers.”

He served as a flight leader and later squadron leader of the 2nd Squadron until it was disbanded in July 1942. He became the second-highest ranking ace in the American Volunteer Group with 12 1/4* victories, and he was one of the five pilots and 27 ground personnel who volunteered to remain in China with Scottish Rite Brother and General Claire Chennault, 32°, KCCH. After accepting transfer to the U.S. Army Air Forces to activate the 23rd Fighter Group, he was given a spot commission to Major. “Tex” activated the 75th Fighter Squadron, known as the Flying Tiger Sharks, as its first squadron commander. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he returned to the U.S. in December 1942, to command the Proving Ground Group at Elgin Field, Florida.

“Tex” is standing beside a restored Commemorative Air Force (CAF, formerly Confederate Air Force) Curtiss P-40N, Warhawk, in the markings of the airplane he flew while in the American Volunteer Group/Flying Tigers. He is with his good friend and CAF sponsor/pilot of the Warhawk, Col. “Ollie” Crawford of Blanco, Texas.

Ill. “Tex” as the 412th Fighter Group Commander, seated in his North American, P-51D, Mustang, at March Air Force Base, California, June 1945.

In October of 1943, Colonel Hill returned to China at the request of General Chennault to command the 23rd Fighter Group and subsequently added six more victories to his score for a total of 18 1/4 confirmed kills. Leaving active duty in July 1946, he joined the Texas Air National Guard and was appointed Brigadier General in command of the 58th Fighter Wing, the youngest General in the history of the Guard.

His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations. He was also decorated by the Chinese Government six times and was presented the British Flying Cross by Lord Halifax.

After WWII service, Illustrious Hill became an aviation consultant and oil operator. Although making his home in San Antonio, Texas, he spent a great amount of time in Taiwan. A member of Liberty Lodge #7, Taipei, Taiwan, he was invested in 1963 with the 32° by the Taipei Scottish Rite Bodies, thus following in the family tradition of a father and two brothers who were Scottish Rite Masons. He was invested a KCCH in 1971, coroneted a 33° member in 1973, and has been an active and strong leader in the Fraternity for many years.

Current photo of Ill. Hill, age 90, proudly wearing his 33° white cap.

In 1998, Ill. Hill was selected as an Eagle for the Gathering of Eagles at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, and received the Lloyd Nolen Lifetime Achievement in Aviation Award. He has been selected as an Eagle seven times for the Air Command & Staff College Gathering of Eagles at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. In 1999, he was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, and in 2003, he was inducted into the Kentucky Hall of Fame and the Former Texas Rangers Foundation.

He has been married to the former Mazie Caroline Sale from Victoria, Texas, for 62 years. They make their home in San Antonio, Texas, and have four children, seven grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

In light of your outstanding military and Masonic careers, we salute you as a true American hero!

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*Meaning he was solely responsible for downing 12 planes and was one of four pilots who jointly shot down another plane.