Ed Hatton
| Edwin Hatton His Life | ||
| Ed Hatton His Military Career | ||
Private Hatton Lackland AFB |
Cadet Hatton San Antonio A. B. |
2nd Lt. Ed Hatton Reese Air Base |
The Crew Preston Nav/Bomb, Myers Gunner and Hatton Pilot Pusan Korea |
Pre-Mission Korea April 1952 |
Getting the Distinguished Flying Cross from Colonel Nye April 1952 |
| Ed
volunteered for four years in the Army Air Corps in Sept. Of 1948 and
was sent to Lackland air Base San Antonio Tx. for basic training which
he completed in Dec. of 1948. he had high grades in the "stanine"
test so even though he had no College schooling he was to cadet training
and sent to Randolph Air Base in the Class of 50D. He completed the
basic fight training in the T 6 in April of 1950 and was sent to
multi-engine training in B25s at Reese Air Base in Lubbock TX. He
graduated in August 1950 as a 2nd Lt. multi -engine pilot.
His first assignment was with the 375th ferry squadron of the Air Material Command and they were responsible for moving all types of aircraft for overhaul, modification and oversea shipment. For example they flew allot of P51's to a base fro transfer to the French air force who were then fighting the war in Viet Nam. It was great experience for Ed as he flew L-4,T-6, P51, P47 C45,C46, C47,B25,B26,B17, and B29's. They would show you how to start them and shut them down and if you got back you were checked out. He got his orders to got to Korea in Sept. 1951 and went to Langley Field for combat training in the Douglas B26 Invador , a single pilot twin attack bomber.He already had time in the plane so this was an easy chore. From there they were sent to Pusan Korea in Jan. of 1952 and he flew 55 single plane night missions. He earned his Distinguished Flying Cross on 4/24/52 He took out a 10 car train with a front to back attack dropping 14 260# frag bombs and then reverse from the back to the front dropping 4 ,500 pounders and then straffing the wreckage with his 14 50 caliber machine guns under a heavy amount of ground fire for what he considered a good nights work. Ed returned to the states in July of 1952 and was assigned to radar controllers school at Tyndall A. F. Base, Panama City Florida, completing the school and staying on as an instructor and also flew target missions in P 51's for the students. He opted out at the end of his 5 years on Aug,5th 1953 and stayed in the reserves for the next two years |
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| Ed Hatton his career after the service | ||
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| After the service he attended Ohio State University from Aug. 1953 to Aug. 1955 graduating with a B. S in Business Administration and a Marketing major. After working for large companies in sales for two years he formed his own manufacturer's rep. and distributor of rubber and plastic products. He did this until retirement but still does business with a dozen of his long standing customers. Having the best of all worlds ,The desert in the winter and on the river in Northern Indiana in the summer | ||
| Ed Hatton His Family Life | ||
Ed and Daughter Jan and grandson Mitchell |
Ed and Grandson Andrew Finn Great Lakes N.A.S. 10/29/05 |
Ed and wife Dorothy California 2005 |
| Ed and Dorothy have three children and four grandchildren and live in Palm Desert CA. in the winter and Mishawaka Indiana in the summer. | ||
| Ed Hatton his sports and hobbies | ||
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| 12 years after the Air Force Ed started flying again (1965) and acquired his first "Mooney" and last year he sold his fifth one and in that time frame flew the following aircraft. Cessna 150,172,182-Piper 140,180 Cherokee Six and Beech Debonaire and Bonnanza. | ||
| PLANES FLOWN BY EDWIN HATTON | ||
A 26 (B 26) Invador |
B 17 Flying Fortress |
T 6 Trainer |
L 4 Trainer |
P 47 Thunderbolt |
P 51 Mustang |
C 45 Expiditor |
C 46 Commando |
C 47 Sky Train |
Beech Debonaire |
Cessna |
B 29 Super Fortress |
Piper 180 |
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