| Horace Meek Hickam | |
|---|---|
Colonel Horace Hickam |
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| Born | August 14, 1885 Spencer, Indiana |
| Died | November 5, 1934 (aged 49) Galveston, Texas |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Corps |
| Years of service | 1908–1934 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | 3rd Attack Group |
| Battles/wars | Mexican Punitive Expedition |
| Awards | Silver Star |
Horace Meek Hickam (August 14, 1885 – November 5, 1934) was a pioneer airpower advocate and an officer in the United States Army Air Corps. Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, is named in his honor.
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The son of a lawyer, Hickam was born in Spencer, Indiana, the eldest of four children. While a student at the Indiana University, he was a member of the Indiana National Guard, then received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, where he excelled in both academics and athletics. Hickam was commissioned a second lieutenant, Cavalry, in 1908 and assigned to the 11th Cavalry, serving in Vermont, Georgia and Texas.
In 1911, while at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Hickam received flying training in addition to his regularly assigned duties. In January 1914 he was transferred to the Philippines and assigned to the 8th Cavalry, serving two years, then returned to the United States and assigned to the 7th Cavalry. He served in Mexico as part of the Mexican Punitive Expedition and saw combat on April 22, 1916, at Tomochic, Chihuahua, where he was awarded the Silver Star in an action against Villistas led by Candelario Cervantes. Following his service in Mexico, Hickam served as a Professor of Military Science at the University of Maine.
Hickam's association with aviation began with the United States' entry into World War I. On August 5, 1917, he received a brevet promotion to Major (United States) and an assignment to the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. He received his military pilot's rating at Rockwell Field, California, on August 15, 1918, and training in pursuit flying at Dorr Field, Arcadia, Florida. In October he was made commander of both Dorr and Carlstrom Fields, now under the auspices of the U.S. Air Service.
On January 21, 1919, Major Hickam was appointed chief of the Information Division, Office of the Director of Air Service, in Washington D.C., where he supervised the first written history of the Air Service. In January 1923, he became assistant commandant of the Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas. In November 1925 he testified on behalf of airpower and a separate Air Force before the Morrow Board, appointed by President Coolidge and chaired by Dwight Morrow to offset adverse political effects of the court martial of Billy Mitchell.
Hickam attended the Air Corps Tactical School at Langley Field, Virginia, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College before a four-year assignment to the War Plans Division of the General Staff. Hickam was promoted to lieutenant colonel on March 1, 1932, and given command of the 3rd Attack Group, based at Fort Crockett, Galveston, Texas. From February to June 1934, during the Air Mail scandal, he commanded mail delivery operations in the Central Zone, headquartered in Chicago.
On May 10, 1926, while attending the Air Corps Tactical School, he collided in mid-air during a flight formation with fellow student, Major Harold Geiger. Hickam parachuted to safety, and narrowly escaped death. This resulted in Hickam's initiation into the famed "Caterpillar Club," a fraternal order with membership based on surviving an emergency parachute jump.[1]
Colonel Hickam was killed in a landing accident at Fort Crockett, Galveston, Texas, on November 5, 1934. Flying a Curtiss A-12 Shrike, 33-250, of the 60th Service Squadron, [2] Hickam was practicing night landings on an unlighted strip when his aircraft struck an embankment and flipped over. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. On May 21, 1935, a new flying field at Honolulu, Hawaii, was designated Hickam Field. Additionally, Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 970 is named after Colonel Hickam. The post is located next to the Air Force Base bearing his name.