Lieutenant Billy Drew Hunter
Distinguished Flying Cross
The following is the obituary that ran following his death and is taken from the New Mexico Historical Billy Drew Hunter was born in Arkansas on August 18, 1921 to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hunter. The family moved to Silver City NM during his youth and he graduated from Silver City HS in 1939. After attending NM Teachers College in Silver City for one year, he transferred to NMAMC for the 40-41 school year studying in the College of Arts and Sciences. He left school and went to work in the aircraft industry before enlisting in the USAAF in January 1942. He was sent to Midland AAF where he earned his commission and was awarded his Bombardier wings in August 1942. In December 1942 he was assigned to the 400th Bomb Squadron “Black Pirates”, 90th Bomb Group “Jolly Rogers” then flying B-24 Liberators out of the Iron Range in Australia against Japanese positions in New Guinea. By August 7, 1943 he had completed 31 missions with over 210 hours of combat air time and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In addition he had been designated the Lead Bombardier for his squadron. On August 15, 1943, just three days before his 22nd birthday, his ship, B-24D # 42-11903 “Hells Angels” piloted by Lt Lewis Jones, was patrolling the waters approximately 200 miles northeast of the Solomon Islands.
At 1315 hours their last message was transmitted as follows:
Seven ship convoy sighted 05.00 south 163.20 east - am attacking
The ship and crew were never heard from again. Today Lt. Billy Drew Hunter is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery Tablet of the Missing. He is also memorialized with a headstone at the Silver City Cemetery. He was 21 years old at the time of his death.