World War II Honoree

Samuel L. Hitchcock

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Muskogee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Jack Cook

Relationship

Historian 44th FS Association

FLEW WITH THE 6TH PURSUIT SQUADRON. WAS ONE OF THE FEW PILOTS IN THE AIR DURING ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR DECEMBER 7, 1941. SERVED WITH THE 44TH FIGHTER SQUADRON ON GUADALCANAL. SERVED IN EUROPE AND ASSUMED COMMAND ON THE 366TH FIGHTER SQUADRON OF THE 9TH AIR FORCE IN OCTOBER 1944 UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. FLEW OVER 150 COMBAT MISSIONS AND DESTROYED 5 GERMAN PLANES IN GROUND ATTACKS. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, 7 AIR MEDALS, 3 PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS AND 8 BATTLE SERVICE STARS.