World War II, Flying Tiger

David Lee “Tex” Hill stands among the most respected of the Flying Tigers pilots—an aviator remembered not only for aerial victories but for steadiness, judgment, and an enduring commitment to service. Born in Korea to American missionary parents and raised partly in Texas, Hill grew up with an unusually international perspective. That early exposure to Asia would later shape both his wartime service and his deep respect for the Chinese people he defended during World War II. After attending the University of Texas, Hill joined the U.S. Navy aviation program before volunteering for the American Volunteer Group—the famed Flying Tigers operating in China prior to America’s formal entry into the war. When the Flying Tigers were absorbed into the U.S. Army Air Forces, Hill continued combat operations in the China-Burma-India theater. After the war, Hill remained active in aviation and later helped build the Texas Air National Guard, eventually retiring as a brigadier general.