Namesakes

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4 USAF photo by TSgt. Shane A. Cuomo TSgt. Shane USAF photo by

HORACE MEEK HICKAM Born: Aug. 14, 1885, Spencer, Ind. HICKAM Died: Nov. 5, 1934, Galveston, The Cavalry Convert College: University of Indiana, US Military Academy, Air Corps Tactical School, Command and General Staff West Point star. ... Cavalryman in America soon went to Washington, D.C., where he School, Army War College and the Philippine Islands. ... Decorated hero served as chief of information. He launched Service: US Army, Cavalry, Air Service/Corps of the US “Punitive Expedition” into Mexico. the influential Air Service Newsletter and Era: World War I, Interwar ... University professor. ... First historian wrote the air arm's first history. Years Active: 1908-34 of the US Air Service. ... Pioneer airpower Hickam in the 1920s became a potent Combat: Mexican Punitive Expedition advocate. ... Aviator killed in the line of duty. force for airpower and an independent air Final Grade: Lieutenant Colonel Each term applies to Lt. Col. Horace Meek service, taking on soldiers who viewed the Honors: Silver Star Hickam, the air officer for whom the US airplane as a mere auxiliary of land forces. Occupation: US military officer officer named a huge air base in . It was an “I am confident that no general thinks he can Famous Friends: , Alexander de Seversky apt tribute to a Renaissance man of aviation's command the Navy, and no admiral thinks he early years. can operate an Army,” Hickam once wrote, Hickam, at West Point, was an academic “but some of them think they can operate star and three-sport letterman. Commissioned an air force.” in 1908, he served in cavalry units in , In 1932, Hickam—now a lieutenant colo- , and Texas. While in Texas in 1911, nel—was sent to , Texas (near State: Hawaii he volunteered to take aviation training at Galveston) and given command of Third Nearest City: Fort Sam Houston, where he flew airplanes Attack Group. Disaster awaited. On Nov. 5, Area: 4.4 sq mi / 2,850 acres in his spare time. That was the start. 1934, Hickam was practicing night landings Status: Open, renamed Hickam spent several years in the Philip- on an unlighted when his A-12 Shrike Opened: (by Air Corps) Sept. 15, 1938 pines. In 1915, Hickam returned to Arizona, struck an embankment and flipped over. He Original Name: Flying Field Tracts A/B (April 3, 1935) and joined the Gen. John J. “Black Jack” was killed instantly. Renamed: Hickam Field (May 21, 1935) Pershing expedition into Mexico to capture The War Department soon named its new Renamed: Army AB APO 953 (May 16, 1942) Pancho Villa. It was here that Hickam first saw Hawaiian base Hickam Field in his honor. In Renamed: Hickam Field (June 1, 1946) combat. He received a Silver Star for bravery ’s Dec. 7, 1941, attack on , Renamed: Hickam AFB (March 26, 1948) in the April 22, 1916, battle at Tomochic. Hickam took major damage and casualties, Closed: (by USAF) Sept. 30, 2010 Hickam was promoted and posted to the but was soon back in operation and playing Reopened: (Joint Force) Oct. 1, 2010 University of Maine as professor of military a pivotal role in the Pacific War. Renamed: JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam science but his academic career was cut short The newly formed US Air Force in 1948 Home Of: Hq PACAF; by US entry into World War I. In August 1917, renamed the field Hickam Air Force Base. USAF Presence: USAF, Hawaii ANG Hickam sought and was granted a transfer In 2010, the Pentagon merged Hickam with 1. Horace Hickam, circa 1918. 2. Hickam as a major to the Air Service and reported to Rockwell the Navy’s Pearl Harbor complex to produce at Bolling Field, D.C., in 1920. 3. Hickam Field’s iconic Field, Calif., for flight training. JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam. It is home to Active 171-foot Moorish-style tower. 4. A C-17, jointly oper- Though Hickam got his wings, the Great Duty C-17s, F-22s of the Hawaii ANG, and ated by PACAF and the Hawaii , flies War ended before he could get to it. Hickam headquarters. over JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

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