Horace A. Hanes

 
Preferred Name: Horace
Nickname/Call Sign: Horace
Date Of Birth: 1916
Highest Military Grade Held: Maj. Gen. O8
Hometown: Fayette, IL

  • bio-photo-before
  • bio-photo-now

Biography

Submitted by: Dewey Clawson
Retired: Bellflower, IL
A command pilot, with more than 6,000 flying hours. Participated in early development evaluations of many of this nation’s aircraft. In addition he has flown the Bell X-IB and several British and French jets.
On Aug. 20, 1955, General Hanes set the world’s first official supersonic speed record over the Mojave Desert when he flew an F-100C Super Sabre at an average speed of 822.135 mph. He was awarded the Thompson Trophy for his record runs made at an altitude of 40,000 feet. In 1956 he received the Mackay Trophy. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.

Units Assigned

  • Entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in October 1938, Commissioned Aug 1939
  • Oct 39-Oct 41.18th Pursuit Gp. Hawaii
  • Oct 41-Apr 42. Air Training Command
  • Apr 42-Aug 43. Commander 312 Ftr Sqdn P-47
  • Aug 43-Apr 44. 71 Ftr Sqdn/1st Ftr Gp. Sqdn CO, Gp Ops Officer, Gp. Deputy Commander. 30 missions P-38. Shot down, MIA over Yugoslavia Jan-Mar 44.
  • Apr 44- Jan 46. Commander Fighter Station Punta Gorda, FL
  • Jan 46-Nov 47. 31st` Ftr Gp Commander, Germany
  • Nov 47- Jan 49. Commander 67th TRG, March AFB
  • Jan49 – Jul 49. Armed Forces Staff College.
  • Jul 49-Jul 52. Chief Air Defense Div. Directorate Research & Development.
  • Jul 52-Jun 53. Air War College
  • Jul 53-Jul 57. Director of Flight Test, Air Force Flt Test Ctr, Edwards AFB. F-100, others
  • Jul 57-May 58. Commander 58th FBW, Korea
  • May 58-Jul 61. Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations Fifth Air Force, Japan.
  • Jul 61-Jul 64. Assistant Chief of Staff, plans, Headquarter ADC, Ent AFB
  • Jul 64-Jun 66. Commander 9th Aerospace Defense Division.
  • Jun 66-Aug 69. Assistant Chief of Staff Operations SHAPE, Paris, France.
  • Aug 69-Jan 73. Vice Commander, Aerospace Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo.

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

Military Education

  • Armed Forces Staff Coll, Jan 1949,
  • Air War College Jun 53.

Civilian Education

  • Ilinois State Univ, BA, 1937
Biography

Biography

Submitted by: Dewey Clawson
Retired: Bellflower, IL
A command pilot, with more than 6,000 flying hours. Participated in early development evaluations of many of this nation’s aircraft. In addition he has flown the Bell X-IB and several British and French jets.
On Aug. 20, 1955, General Hanes set the world’s first official supersonic speed record over the Mojave Desert when he flew an F-100C Super Sabre at an average speed of 822.135 mph. He was awarded the Thompson Trophy for his record runs made at an altitude of 40,000 feet. In 1956 he received the Mackay Trophy. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, and Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon.

Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info

Units Assigned

  • Entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in October 1938, Commissioned Aug 1939
  • Oct 39-Oct 41.18th Pursuit Gp. Hawaii
  • Oct 41-Apr 42. Air Training Command
  • Apr 42-Aug 43. Commander 312 Ftr Sqdn P-47
  • Aug 43-Apr 44. 71 Ftr Sqdn/1st Ftr Gp. Sqdn CO, Gp Ops Officer, Gp. Deputy Commander. 30 missions P-38. Shot down, MIA over Yugoslavia Jan-Mar 44.
  • Apr 44- Jan 46. Commander Fighter Station Punta Gorda, FL
  • Jan 46-Nov 47. 31st` Ftr Gp Commander, Germany
  • Nov 47- Jan 49. Commander 67th TRG, March AFB
  • Jan49 – Jul 49. Armed Forces Staff College.
  • Jul 49-Jul 52. Chief Air Defense Div. Directorate Research & Development.
  • Jul 52-Jun 53. Air War College
  • Jul 53-Jul 57. Director of Flight Test, Air Force Flt Test Ctr, Edwards AFB. F-100, others
  • Jul 57-May 58. Commander 58th FBW, Korea
  • May 58-Jul 61. Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations Fifth Air Force, Japan.
  • Jul 61-Jul 64. Assistant Chief of Staff, plans, Headquarter ADC, Ent AFB
  • Jul 64-Jun 66. Commander 9th Aerospace Defense Division.
  • Jun 66-Aug 69. Assistant Chief of Staff Operations SHAPE, Paris, France.
  • Aug 69-Jan 73. Vice Commander, Aerospace Defense Command, Ent Air Force Base, Colo.

Awards & Decorations

Flight Info

Military Education

  • Armed Forces Staff Coll, Jan 1949,
  • Air War College Jun 53.

Civilian Education

  • Ilinois State Univ, BA, 1937
Scroll to Top