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Tex Hill (of the AVG 2nd Squadron and the first commander of the 75FS), the original Tiger 1, died yesterday (Thursday).

I found out when I went in to work this afternoon. Me and a few other guys are going TDY to San Antonio on Monday, we're taking four jets with us and they will be flying a missing man formation at his funeral.

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\"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a GAU-8/A at your side, kid.\"--Hawg Solo

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123071654

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73-1664

Brigadier General David Lee \"Tex\" Hill retrospective

jackb, are you guys going into Kelly Field or Lackland? Would love to see the 4-ship, if you can PM me details I would be grateful...

Cheers! M2

You think they tell me anything? IDK, but I thought Lackland doesn't have a flightine, so if that is correct then Kelly would make more sense. I've been busy as hell all weekend- unpacking yesterday (finally finished moving in) then all day today helping build a shed at a firends place, and I came hoem to do laundry, pck and eat. Now its 2am and I have to be at work ready to go at 7am. We're taking a C-130 there, but no idea what time the jets are taking off or landing.

If you do get pics, please send me a copy, I won't get to see a thing from the flightline.

What an honor to be part of his final flight.

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\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

You're right Jack, no air field at Lackland. Kelly is the nearest field.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Kelly Field became a part of Lackland AFB when Kelly AFB closed down a few years back...it is still a very active airfield, servicing the USAFR C-5 unit (433 AW) and TX ANG F-16 FTU (149 FW).

The only other active USAF airfield in the area is Randolph AFB. I suspect the Moody jets went there...

Cheers! M2

Thanks Max. I never knew that Kelly had been shut down. It always seemed kind of odd, 2 bases right next to one another. Learn something new every day.

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

We're atr Randolph. The 130 leavign Moody was delayed a few hours and we just finished up with the jets here. I'm not sure what tiem they take off tomorrow, I think I overheard a pilot say about 1pm. We are going to turn them after the flyby and go back to Moody tomorrow.

Jack

The memorial is at 1pm tomorrow, and the funeral afterward at Ft Sam Houston. I suspect the flyover would be no earlier that 2pm, possible 3pm. I hope to get out to the cemetery and if I can get a chance to video tape the formation, I will. No guarantees, but I try my best!

Cheers! M2

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The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Well, there are some things that are beyond control, and the weather in San Antonio today was one of them. A low ceiling meant that none of the scheduled fly-bys were conducted. Besides the A-10 4-ship, they had an Appache pass as well as a pair of P-51s and a P-40.

I did get to the memorial service and it was packed. Texas Govenor Rick Perry was there and awarded Hill the Lone Star Distinguished Service Award, the highest award the state offers outside of direct combat. He also appointed Hill an Admiral in the Texas Navy. Several others spoke about Hill, and the San Antonio Academy--from which Hill graduated in 1928--had their Boy's Choir perform three times. One of his grandsons, who also spoke, is a USAF Lt Col.

All in all a fitting tribute to Shark One. He has, as they said, conducted his final flight with a perfect landing. Godspeed, Tex!

Cheers! M2

That was the shortest TDY I've ever been on. Yesterday after we got got Randolph, we refuled the jets and pulled the forms. We went to a thing at the golf course where they had nachos and beer, and after that we finally got to end out duty day 14 hours after it began. A shower and change of clothes later and we were headed off base. The riverwalk was completely deserted, so surprise surprise we went to a strip club.

This morning we went in at 10, and as M2 said, nothing flew. Well, we did send up one A-10 b/c they said the weather was clearer on the other side of town so he went to check it out and came back when they decided to cancel it all. Turned that one jet, launched them all and got right back on the C-130.

I took some cool pics, I'll post them in the AM.

Jets on the ramp not taking off


P-40 teeth


P-40 squadron marking (this P-40 was not really a 1st pursuit sq jet, I saw the S/N and asked, b/s it was made in '44, it has just been painted to look like one)


P-51


P-51

A shame that nothing got to fly, but at least you got to see the send off. Great pics Jack, thanks for sharing and doing your part.

_________________
Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

See here a nice tribute to the whole A.V.G.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V0iEGQ715M

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73-1664

Jack

Thanks for the pics...although nothing got to fly, it wasn't from a lack of trying! I was talking to the captain at the cemetery who was coordinating everything on the ground. He wasn't too optimistic, but he kept calling to see if the weather had broke.

Dutchy

Thanks for posting that tribute. The odd coincidence is that very song was played at Tex's memorial.

Cheers! M2

Funny thing...I probably saw you guys but didn't know it. I was the one who ran the coordination out of Moody and was at the funeral and the cemetary. I was sad that all the work we did was for naught...