WWII USAAF Army Air Forces Pilot's Flight Log P-51 Mustang 4 Kills 'Col. Hudson'
Wonderful Original WWII USAAF Army Air Forces Pilot's Flight Log P-51 Mustang Pilot 'Colonel William Hudson' of Union City, Tennessee (b. Dec 31 1922 - d. Oct 24 2007) accompanied with four original photo negatives & 4 prints recently produced from those negatives (8x10 glossy); as well as, one of Colonel Will "Ikey" Hudson's Pilot Training Books 'Take Off' Official Handbook of the Corps of Aviation Cadets, Maxwell Field, Alabama. Col. Hudson's Pilot's Flight Log book includes, in addition to his training history, numerous missions flying a North American Aviation P-51 Mustang over the European Theater in 1945 including: France, Dortmund, Hamburg, Hannover, Berlin, Dresden, Leitz, Kiel, Munich, Koln, Dresden Sweep, Berlin Sweep, and others. The following is a small excerpt from his extensive obituary (found below) "He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned his wings in April 1944 after completing flight training at Craig Field in Alabama. Within a year, he was credited with destroying four German aircraft in the European Theater as a P-51 pilot and was awarded five air medals. As an aircraft commander, he flew more than 20 kinds of aircraft, ranging from the open cockpit Stearman to the F-80 "Shooting Star" and the air refuellable H-3 "Jolly Green Giant" helicopter and the C-119 and C-123 transports." Fine original condition as photographed - this collection displays well and will make a fantastic addition to any Advanced WWII Collection - Recent Acquisition & Presented as Acquired, RARE
Col. Will M. "Ikey" Hudson
Completed arrangements are being announced for Col. Will M. "Ikey" Hudson, 84, of Union City, who died Oct. 24, 2007, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City. He was a fighter pilot and military flight instructor whose career began in World War II and concluded in the Vietnam era.
Hudson, who retired to his hometown and joined the former Farmers Exchange Bank as a trust and loan officer in 1973 before being named a vice president, earned numerous medals during his 31-year career as he progressed from a decorated fighter pilot to management positions in Air Force rescue operations and military schools.
A retired military officer, Hudson was born Dec. 31, 1922, in Union City, son of the late Henderson and Ruby (Murry) Hudson. He graduated from Union City High School and enrolled at Murray (Ky.) State University and the former Memphis State College.
He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned his wings in April 1944 after completing flight training at Craig Field in Alabama. Within a year, he was credited with destroying four German aircraft in the European Theater as a P-51 pilot and was awarded five air medals. As an aircraft commander, he flew more than 20 kinds of aircraft in the war, ranging from the open cockpit Stearman to the F-80 "Shooting Star" and the air refuelable H-3 "Jolly Green Giant" helicopter and the C-119 and C-123 transports.
At war's end, he returned stateside and earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1948 and his master's degree in public administration from George Washington University. He also graduated from the Air Command and Staff College.
With the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, he was recalled for pilot duty with the Air National Guard at Memphis and flew jet fighters and tactical reconnaissance aircraft. Assigned to helicopter duty, he began a series of Air Force rescue assignments, first in Korea as a rescue detachment commander and then at Turner Air Force Base in Georgia as chief of the base rescue detachment. Later, he was named operations officer for the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
In that capacity, he managed the Air Force rescue operations for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He was also wing chief in the Air University's Squadron Officer School.
It was also while he served in Korea that he initiated "Operation Seldom." Hudson made sure Americans were aware of the needs of homeless children and others in that far-away country who were victims of the war. As citizens passed on needed supplies and gifts to him, he saw to their delivery to orphanages and their distribution to other Koreans in need.
Hudson received another Air Medal for his service in Korea, plus an Air Rescue Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal during his service to his country.
In 1972 he was assigned to the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana as assistant commander. He continued in that capacity until his retirement, assuming responsibility for the curriculum, scheduling and supervision of more than 60 classes annually with more than 1,200 students.
After his return to Union City with his family, he was selected president of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Union City Kiwanis Club and the Order of Daedalians, America's premier fraternal organization of military pilots.
He was a board member of the Obion County Cancer Agency and was a 50-year Mason and Scottish Rite and a member of Union City First Christian Church. (Partial Obituary found in NWTN Today; The Messenger Oct 25, 2007)
Fine original condition as photographed - this collection displays well and will make a fantastic addition to any Advanced WWII Collection - Recent Acquisition & Presented as Acquired, RARE. He was also wing chief in the Air University’s Squadron Officer School.
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