Decorated Pilot And American Hero

David Hamilton, a decorated World War II Pathfinder pilot and American hero, passed away on January 5 at the age of 102. His bravery and exceptional service during pivotal moments of the war form a legacy that is a testament to his courage, innovation and dedication to duty and country.

Hamilton enlisted in the Army Air Force on December 8, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was trained as a pilot on the C-47 and assigned to the 436th Troop Carrier Group of the 9th Air Force stationed at Bottesford Base in England.

He joined the Pathfinder Unit, an elite group of pilots specially trained with pilots and air crews responsible for navigating and marking drop zones ahead of airborne paratroop operations.

Hamilton flew in several historic and critical campaigns:

• June 1944: D-Day, Normandy, France, where he dropped pathfinder paratroopers to set up and mark landing zones for the main invasion force
• August 1944: Operation Dragoon in Southern France
• September 1944: Operation Market Garden in Holland and completed five missions
• December 1944: Led C-47s to deliver vital supplies to the troops of the 101st Airborne Division surrounded at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge

After a brief separation from the military, he returned to active duty and flew 51 missions in RB_26 aircraft during the Korean War. His actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross, five more Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations.

He was involved in developing the Sidewinder air-to-air missile and also contributed to intelligence analysis during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962. Hamilton also received numerous accolades including the French Legion of Honot and the Order off William from Holland, as well as jump wings from the 82nd Airborne Division.

Hamilton was active in the Commemorative Air Force and was well-known for his storytelling and sharing his experiences at airshows, universities and other events. In 2019 he returned to the base he was stationed at in North Witham, England with the CAF as part of the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

David Hamilton will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and many individuals he inspired by his life of service.

FMI:  commemorativeairforce.org/