World War II Honoree

Warren W. Hills

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Fresno, California

Honored By

Warren W. Hills

Relationship

Self

ENLISTED IN U.S. MARINE CORPS, REPORTING FOR BOOT CAMP IN SAN DIEGO ON FEBRUARY 16, 1942. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND SENT TO AVIATION ORDNANCE SCHOOL AT JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. SENT TO HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA FOR NAVAL AERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL. ASSIGNED TO U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION MIRAMAR IN SAN DIEGO. JOINED THE VMTB-143 TORPEDO BOMBER SQUADRON AND RECEIVED EXTENSIVE TRAINING. OUTFIT WAS THEN SHIPPED TO THE SOUTH PACIFIC ON THE USS LURALINE. TRANSFERRED TO USS HUNTER LIGGETT WHICH WAS HEADED TO NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS WHERE HOME BASE WAS ESTABLISHED ON THE ISLAND OF EFATE. THERE, THEY FLEW SUBMARINE PATROLS. IN NOVEMBER 1943 THE OUTFIT MOVED TO HENDERSON FIELD ON GUADALCANAL AND JOINED TWO FIGHTER AND TWO DIVE BOMBER SQUADRONS. FLEW 49 MISSIONS THAT INCLUDED GLIDE BOMBING AND STRAFING OF AIRSTRIPS IN THE SOLOMON ISLAND CHAIN. LAID MAGNETIC MINES AT KAHILI HARBOR AT BOUGAINVILLE AND HIT SHIPPING LANES. WHILE ON A MISSION TO DIVE BOMB AN AIRSTRIP ON MUNDA ISLAND, AIRCRAFT WAS HIT BY ENEMY FIRE AND FORCED TO DITCH 2 MILES OFFSHORE. FORTUNATELY A U.S. NAVY PBY-BLACK CAT PICKED UP THE CREW. AFTER A DECEMBER 1943 LEAVE TO THE STATES, REPORTED TO EL TORO MARINE AIR STATION JOINING THE VMSB-234 DIVE BOMBING SQUADRON. SENT TO PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON NOVEMBER 7, 1944 AS A REPLACEMENT GUNNER, JOINING THE VMSB-133 DIVE BOMBING SQUADRON AT MANGALAN AIR BASE ON LUZON. FLEW CLOSE AIR SUPPORT FOR THE U.S. ARMY'S 41ST INFANTRY. HAD 38 MISSIONS OVER LUZON AND MINDINAO. IN DECEMBER 1945, REPORTED TO CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA MARINE AIR STATION AND FINISHED 4 YEARS ENLISTMENT ON FEBRUARY 16, 1946. RECEIVED 3 DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES, 10 AIR MEDALS, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH 5 STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 STAR, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.