Volunteer Staff

Jim Hildebrand enlisted in the Air Force 4 July 1951and did basic training at Lackland AIR FORCE BASE (AFB) IN San Antonio TX. Upon completing basic training he was assigned to A&E school at Sheppard AFB after which he was assigned to special training on the B-29 Bomber. After graduation he was sent to Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois for Aircraft Electrical Repairmen school after graduation and promoted to A12C.  Reassigned to Patrick AFB for training on B-61, a matador missile , a ground to ground weapon capable of delivering an Atomic warhead to guided target.,  Training was composed of assembly and lanch preparatioins from Cape Canaveral to down range target.  Three squadrons were formed, the 1^st, 11^th and the 69^thJim was in the 69^th and was then moved to Orlando AFB in 11^th squadron and was sent to Germany.  With insufficient time left on enlistment time he was transferred to LA the 390^th fighter squadron as the aircraft electrician and promoted to Staff SGT. He was discharged from active duty 3 July 1955 with an Honorable Discharge 3 July 1959.