Loren Boyd Hillsinger

Military
media-17080.jpeg UPL 17080 Fighter Pilot, Col. Loren B Hillsinger leaving his British 'Hawker Hurricane' at an airfield in Hendon, Middlesex, England after completing a mission. 4th May 1943.

Object Number - UPL 17080 - Fighter Pilot, Col. Loren B Hillsinger leaving his British 'Hawker Hurricane' at an airfield in Hendon, Middlesex, England after completing a...

Colonel Lorin B Hillsinger was the first USAAF officer permitted to return to operational flying after losing a limb.

C/O of 61st Troop Carrier Group, July 1941.

Colonel Lorin B Hillsinger was badly wounded, losing a leg, whilst an observer onboard the destroyer HMS Berkeley, which was sunk during the Dieppe Raid on Aug 19, 1942.



"Aboard the Berkeley, a direct hit killed all aboard but Hillsinger. Then, a steel chest sliding across the deck sheared his leg just below the knee. With an improvised tourniquet around his severed leg, he crawled to the rail and plunged fifteen feet to Steam Gun Boat #8 waiting below.

He continued as aircraft lookout while lying on its deck severely wounded. In England, some seventeen hours later, his severed leg got its first hospital attention."

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: Hurricane
  • Unit: Headquarters Squadron (VIII Air Force Service Command) VIII Air Force Service Command

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

20 June 1909 Born in Binghamton, New York, on 20 June 1909, he was named for his father, Loren Hillsinger, and his mother, Mary Boyd.

Other

Wounded

Dieppe, France 19 August 1942 Badly wounded, losing a leg, whilst an observer onboard the destroyer HMS Berkeley, which was sunk during the Dieppe Raid on Aug 19, 1942.

Other

Awarded Distinguished Service Cross

19 August 1942 The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Loren B. Hillsinger, Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in aerial combat while serving as Air Officer, attached to the HMS Berkeley, in action against enemy forces on 19 August 1942, during the Allied Raid on the French port of Dieppe. During bombardment of his vessel by enemy aircraft, Colonel Hillsinger's foot was blown off by the bomb. Despite this severe injury he made his way to the S.C.B., where, though in great pain, he continued to act as aircraft lookout while lying on the deck. The personal courage and devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Hillsinger on this occasion have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.

Died

Winter Park, FL, USA 5 March 1966 Died of a heart attack.
El Paso, TX, USA El Paso, Texas, USA.

Other

Returned Flying Duties

First USAAF officer permitted to return to operational flying after losing a limb.

Other

C/O 61st TCG

Commanding Officer of 61st Troop Carrier Group, July 1941.

Other

Participated invasion of Sicily

Sicily, Italy Participated in the invasion of Sicily. As a member of the forward echelon of Air Support Command, he flew missions in a pursuit plane to observe air-ground support.

Other

Medically Retired

Retired in 1946 as a result of wounds received in combat.

Enlisted

Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico Acting Military as well as Air Attache with the American Embassy in Mexico City.

Other

University reading Law

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA Three years at the University of Florida and he was practicing law. He was admitted to the Florida and Canal Zone Bars, all of the Federal Courts from the District to the United States Supreme Court.

Other

Practised Law

Panama Canal, Panama Sat as Judge of a Court of the United States in the Panama Canal Zone for two and one-half years.

Other

Educated

Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA Syracuse University where he excelled at football and lacrosse.

Other

Educated

Stanton College Preparatory School, 1149 West 13th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA Attended Stanton Preparatory School.

Other

West Point Military Academy

United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, USA Entered West Point Military Academy summer of 1928. He was one of the greatest running guards to ever wear the West Point Military Academies Black, Gray and Gold.

Enlisted

Revisions

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Loren Boyd Hillsinger: Gallery (4 items)