David Ernest Hicklin joined the USAAC in early 1943 with flight training @ Enid Army Flying School, Enid, OK, flying the Vultee BT15A, receiving Solo Clearance on 5 April 1943. Entered Advanced Flight Training at Fredrick Army Air Field, Fredrick, OK, flying the Cessna UC-78 "Bamboo Bomber". Graduated with Class 43-G on 29 July 1943. He reported to Fort Benning, Columbus, GA, in the fall of 1943 flying the C-47 "Gooney Bird". He gained experience in flying cargo and paratroops.
Late winter/early spring 1944 was transferred to England, North of London. During the transit he related the scariest period was flying the approach to "Bluey West Two" (BW-2) airfield on the West coast of Greenland. The approach was in a 40 mile long Fiord. The approach could be aborted only in the first 10 miles; you were then committed to land (or crash). The runway sloped up with a mountain or cliff face at the upper end. Take off was back the way you came.
Among his missions was at least one flight into North Africa to deliver much needed fuel to General Patton's Tank Corp.
The evening of June 4th, 1944 Dave flew a mission into Occupied France with Paratroopers. The Paratroopers were to set up radio beacons to guide subsequent troop carrying flights. Early morning of June 6th, the troop carriers began flying wave after wave of paratroopers & towing gliders. For months after the invasion Dave flew troops and/or cargo into Holland, France & Belgium, & flew prisoners out & back to England. On one of these nighttime missions, his aircraft came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. A round came through the floor of the cockpit & exploded just behind the pilot's seat. The co-pilot was struck by shrapnel & began screaming that his foot or leg was blown off. As the cockpit lighting was all red for night flying, it was impossible to see how much blood there was. Dave managed to get the aircraft back to base with the co-pilot still alive.
Dave earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters & the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a Silver Star & two Bronze Star devices for service in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) & flights into N. Africa.
After being released from active duty in late 1945, he remained in the Inactive Reserves until early 1952 when he was recalled to Active Duty @ Seymour Johnson AFB, Greensboro, NC. Dave began training to become a jet aircraft flight instructor. During a solo flight, an old back injury flared up. Becoming numb from his neck down & unable to move the flight controls, he was able to key his mike on the throttle handle & declared an emergency. Another jet scrambled to his aid & flew wing on him until the feeling gradually returned & he was able to make a safe landing.
Numerous medical tests and evaluations later, Dave was released from military service on 9 May 1958 holding the rank of Captain, USAF.