Lt. Col. George William Hoppe, USAF, 1923-2012, was a highly-decorated reconnaissance pilot and veteran of three wars. During his career, he piloted more than 40 aircraft types and was rated a senior command pilot.

In World War II, he served with the 3rd Photo Reconnaissance Group, U.S. Twelfth Air Force, in the Mediterranean Theater. He flew more than 50 reconnaissance missions in the P-38/F-5B in North Africa, Italy and Southern France. He considered the P-38 to be the most beautiful plane of World War II, and it remained his all-time favorite.

During the Korean War, Lt. Col. Hoppe flew night reconnaissance missions in the Douglas B-26.

From 1956 to 1958 he was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), in the War Plans Division, stationed first at Wiesbaden AB and then at Ramstein AB.

From 1961 to 1965 Lt. Col. Hoppe worked for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon and at a secret location on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. During this time he was closely involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1965, he was transferred to Hickam AFB, in Hawaii, and travelled significantly to and within Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Later he would be a key member of the team that planned and managed “Operation Homecoming” for the safe return of all U.S. POWs.

In 1969, Lt. Col. Hoppe returned to Washington, D.C. and retired from the U.S. Air Force. But his love of flying never waned, and he regularly flew as a private pilot.

He spent most of the remainder of his career working civil service for the National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia, and at the Pentagon. Upon his retirement in 1985 he was presented the Eagle Award, the highest award given to a civilian by the National Guard of the United States.

His military medals and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with two silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Joint Chiefs of Staff badge, and numerous campaign and service medals.

He died January 5, 2012, at his home in Melbourne, Florida. He is greatly missed but dearly remembered.