John Allen Hilger | |
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| Nickname(s) | Jack [1] |
| Born | January 11, 1909 Sherman, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1982 (aged 73) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1932–1966 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | Photographic section, March Field 89th Reconnaissance Squadron 320th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Group Operational Training Unit Bomb Group, Fourteenth Air Force 1st Bomb Group, CACW 306th Bomb Group 307th Bomb Group 307th Bomb Wing Air Force Operational Test Center U.S. Air Force Group, Turkey |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Silver Star Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (3) |
John Allen Hilger (11 January 1909 – 3 February 1982) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force. Born in Sherman, Texas, Hilger graduated from Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1934. He was assigned to the 89th Reconnaissance Squadron as commander in May 1940; flying North American B-25 Mitchell bombers on anti-submarine patrols from December 1941.
Selected by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle for what became known as the Doolittle Raid, he piloted one of the B-25s that bombed Nagoya in Japan on 18 April 1942. He later served as commander of the 307th Bomb Group and flew missions during the Korean War. He served as the Chief of the United States element for the NATO planning group LIVE OAK, before his retirement from the Air Force on 30 November 1966.