Gladwin Hill
Military![Captain Bernard Thompson of the 387th Bomb Group and War Correspondent Gladwin Hill of the Associated Press, in the cockpit of a B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 8 May 1944.' [stamp] and '319310.' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AP War Correspondent Pays A Visit To A Marauder Base "Somewhere In England". Associated Press Photo Shows:- Left, Gladwyn Hill, A.P. War Correspondent sits in the cockpit of a Marauder, right pilot Capt. Bernar](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg/public/freeman/media-457859.jpg.webp?itok=LWKl9eFG)
Object Number - FRE 10908 - Captain Bernard Thompson of the 387th Bomb Group and War Correspondent Gladwin Hill of the Associated Press, in the cockpit of a B-26 Marauder. Image...
War Correspondent for Associated Press, In 1942 he was one of eight journalists known as the Writing 69th trained to take part in bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force.
On 26 February 1943, after completing a week's training Hill and five other members of The Writing 69th participated in their first and last mission, flying over Wilhemshaven. Robert Post another journalist was killed and as a result, journalists were prevented from participating in further missions with the 8th Air Force.
Hill described the mission: 'It was thrilling. Yet at the same time it was strangely prosaic in the business-like efficiency with which it was executed.'
Hill nevertheless continued to cover the Allied air campaign against Germany, in 1944 he witnessed the Allied invasion of France, flying in a bomber and opened the Associated Press bureau in Paris. In January 1945, Hill joined the New York Times where he reported on the Allied advance eastwards. He was one of the first journalists to enter Berlin and to enter Poland.
Following the War Hill established a New York Times bureau in Los Angeles, he was dispatched to report on the assassination of President John F Kennedy. he worked with the New York Times for 44 years, reporting and writing books on Californian politics.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Other
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron The Writing 69th
- Role/Job: War Correspondent

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron The Writing 69th
- Role/Job: War Correspondent United Press

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
- Nationality: American
- Unit: The Writing 69th
- Role/Job: War Correspondent

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: The Writing 69th
- Role/Job: War Correspondent

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: The Writing 69th
- Role/Job: War Correspondent
Missions

- Date: 26 February 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Boston, MA, USA | 16 June 1914 | |
Other Visited Kings Cliffe airfield |
King's Cliffe, Peterborough PE8, UK | 11 March 1943 | |
Died |
Los Angeles, CA, USA | 19 February 1992 | |
Other Associated Press |
Revisions
Added connections to all the members of "the Writing 69th".
Associated images from the Freeman Collection
Obituary, New York Times
Biography, The Writing 69th