World War II Honoree

Fred Leroy Hillis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Louis, Missouri

Honored By

Cynthia, F. Lawrence, Mary, Valerie & Virginia

Relationship

Children

WWII PILOT INSTRUCTOR AT EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TEST PILOT EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, ACE P-47 PILOT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE WITH 97 COMBAT MISSIONS. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 14 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS, AS WELL AS THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AMERICANS TO FLY A JET (CAPTURED GERMAN) AIRCRAFT. HE WAS THE OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE FAMOUS WWII PILOT GROUP 'WATSON'S WHIZZERS'.