US Air Force General. After graduating from Stillwater High School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, he attended Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. After the United States declared war on Japan, he entered the US Army Air Corps in March 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing pilot training in February 1943. He was assigned to the European theater in December 1943 as a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilot, where he flew 127 combat missions and became a World War II ace, credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft. At the end of World War II, he returned to the United States and was released from active duty in December 1945. He then joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard where he commanded a P-51 Mustang aircraft squadron. He returned to active duty in November 1948, serving as a flight commander with the 3525th Pilot Training Wing, Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. He transferred to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Itazuke Air Base, Japan, in August 1950 and flew combat mission in Korea. Later, he was assigned to the Headquarters Fifth Air Force, Osan Air Base, Korea, where he served as operations officer and chief, fighter operations division, directorate of operations. During the Korean War, he flew 128 combat missions and was credited with shooting down one enemy aircraft. He returned to the United States in September 1951, and was reassigned to the 3525th Pilot Training Wing as an operations and training staff officer. In January 1952, he was transferred to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to serve on the Joint Tactical Air Support Board. In April 1953, he was ordered to England to attend the Royal Air Force Flying College at Royal Air Force Station Manby, England, as an exchange officer. After graduation, he joined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Royal Air Force Station Wethersfield, England, where he served as an operations staff officer and assistant director of operations. In February 1955, he then was transferred to the 79th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, England, and served as the squadron and base commander. In May 1956, he rejoined the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing, serving as the director of operations and as deputy commander. After returning to the Unites States in July 1957, he was assigned as the senior Air Force advisor for the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. In August 1960, he was transferred to Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington DC, where he served in the office of deputy chief of staff, operations, and in the directorate of manpower and organization as the chief of Contract Services Branch, and later served as deputy chief of organizational requirements division. In August 1963, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and was awarded a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1964. In August 1964, he was assigned to Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, where he served as the deputy commander for operations of the 405th Fighter Wing, becoming its commander in September 1964. In January 1966, he was reassigned to the Headquarters 13th Air Force as deputy chief of staff, plans and operations. Returning to the United States in July 1966, he commanded the 3615th Pilot Training Wing, Craig Air Force Base, Alabama. In July 1967, he was assigned as the commander of the 40th Air Division at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan. He then assumed command of the 825th Strategic Aerospace Division at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, in June 1968. He then became commander of the 42nd Air Division at Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas, in January 1970. He was named deputy assistant secretary of defense (Atomic Energy) in July 1971, remaining at that post until June 1972, where he was transferred to England as the commander of 3rd Air Force. He returned to Headquarters United States Air Force in November 1973, to be the assistant deputy chief of staff for plans and operations. In September 1974, he was assigned as the commander in chief, Alaskan Command, with additional duty as commander, Alaskan North American Air Defense Region, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. He then became commander of the Alaskan Air Command after the dissolution of the Alaskan Command in July 1975. In October 1976, he was transferred to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where he was the commander of 8th Air Force, In July 1977, he was assigned as the vice commander in chief, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and service in that capacity until December 6, 1977, when he assumed command of the North American Aerospace Defense Space Command and United States Air Force Aerospace Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He was promoted to general on December 21, 1977. He retired on December 31, 1979, with 37 years of military duty in the active Air Force and the Air National Guard. He was a command pilot and wore the Master Missileman Badge. Among his awards and decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with 40 oak leaf clusters, the Air Force commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, The Army Commendation Medal, the French Croix de Guerre with palm, and the Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm. After his retirement from the Air Force, he served as the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was the charman of the Space Foundation from 1986 until his death. The General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, an annual award presented by the Space Foundation to an outstanding individual who is recognized for lifetime contributions to the welfare or betterment of humankind through the exploration, development, and use of space technology, information, themes or resources in academic, cultural, industrial or other pursuits of broad benefit to humanity, is named in his honor. He died of leukemia.