Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
William
Johnston
Hovde
April 4, 1917

–

March 13, 1996

Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery

William Hovde attended the University of North Dakota during 1936 – 38, receiving a freshman scholarship award. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in January 1943. Prior to his Distinguished Service Cross mission he had already become an ACE with 6 victories. The 5.5 victories scored on that mission made him an ACE-in-a-DAY and a DOUBLE ACE overall, and he finished the war with credit for 10.5 aerial victories. Flying combat in the Korean War, he was credited with one more aerial victory when he shot down a MiG. He retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel on June 30, 1967.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 28 (April 5, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) William Johnston Hovde (ASN:0-9836A/0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Fighter Pilot with the 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, during World War II. Lieutenant Hovde has accomplished forty fighter combat missions, or the equivalent thereof, over enemy occupied Continental Europe and has destroyed one enemy airplane in aerial combat. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 11 (February 15, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) William Johnston Hovde (ASN:0-9836A/0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in accomplishing fifty fighter combat missions, or the equivalent thereof, over enemy occupied Continental Europe while serving as a Fighter Pilot with the 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, during World War II. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Colonel

    Action Date:

    May 20, 1956 – July 11, 1958

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel William Johnston Hovde (ASN: 0-25753), United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States from 20 May 1956 to 11 July 1958 as Commander, Ethan Allen Air Force Base, Vermont, and Commander, 14th Fighter Group. During this period, Colonel Hovde demonstrated outstanding leadership, ingenuity and professional competence in continuously maintaining peak combat effectiveness during transition from F-86D to F-102A aircraft and activation of a Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In addition, his aggressive and continuous public relations program kept the civilian community enthusiastically interested and cooperative. The exemplary accomplishments of Colonel Hovde reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps), (then Captain)

    Batallion:

    358th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    March 18, 1944
    Headquarters, 8th Air Force, General Orders No. 446 (June 5, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major (Air Corps), (then Captain) William Johnston Hovde (ASN: 0-9836A/0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Mustang Fighter Airplane in the 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 18 March 1944, while leading a flight of P-51 fighter aircraft providing penetration and target support for heavy bombers attacking a target in Germany. During the withdrawal from the target, Captain Hovde observed about fifteen FW-190’s pressing a vicious attack against the bombers. With disregard for the numerical superiority of the enemy force, he led his flight in vigorous assault, destroying one FW-190 and dispersing the remainder, thereby enabling the bombers to continue on unmolested. When enemy fighters attacked while he was reforming his flight, Captain Hovde engaged and destroyed one FW-190 in the ensuing combat. Just as he was returning from this encounter, two enemy fighters attacked his aircraft. Exhibiting exceptional courage and superior combat skill, he turned into the attacking fighters and followed one of them down to less than 1,000 feet, heavily damaging him, before being forced to break off the chase because of an exhausted supply of ammunition. Captain Hovde’s gallantry, determination and devotion to duty inspired his fellow flyers and contributed in a large measure to the protection of the bomber formation.

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps)

    Batallion:

    358th Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    December 5, 1944
    Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 24 (March 13, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) William Johnston Hovde (ASN: 0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 358th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 5 December 1944, during an air mission over Berlin, Germany. On that date, while acting as Group Leader on a bomber-escort mission, Major Hovde directed an attack by his group on superior numbers of enemy aircraft. Despite the fact that his aircraft developed mechanical difficulties and his fuel reserve was critically short, he relentlessly pursued the enemy, personally destroying five of them and sharing in the destruction of a sixth. The outstanding heroism and determination to destroy the enemy displayed by Major Hovde on this occasion are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Air Force

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Colonel

    Batallion:

    Fighter Squadron

    Regiment:

    4th Fighter Group

    Action Date:

    Korean War
    United States Military Academy Register of Graduates

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Colonel William Johnston Hovde (ASN: 0-25753), United States Air Force, was awarded a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Sixth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group, in Korea. His devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 63 (July 27, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) William Johnston Hovde (ASN:0-9836A/0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot of the 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, during World War II, and the destruction of three enemy airplanes over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Captain (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 8th Fighter Command, General Orders No. 84 (September 15, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) William Johnston Hovde (ASN:0-9836A/0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Fighter Pilot of the 355th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, during World War II, and the destruction of three enemy airplanes over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner in which he has sought out the enemy and destroyed him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve as an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Major (Air Corps)

    Regiment:

    355th Fighter Group

    Division:

    8th Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, 2d Air Division, General Orders No. 112 (March 30, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major (Air Corps) William Johnston Hovde (ASN:0-9836A/0-25753), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Flight Leader in aerial flight over enemy occupied Continental Europe. The skillful and zealous manner with which this officer sought out the enemy and engaged him, his devotion to duty and courage under all conditions serve and an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His actions on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.