William J. Hovde

William Johnston Hovde (4 April 1917 – 13 March 1996) was a United States Air Force colonel and a World War II flying ace. Hovde served two tours in the 355th Fighter Group and commanded the 358th Fighter Squadron, ending the war with 10.5 victories. He served in the Korean War with the 4th Fighter Group, claiming another victory. After serving as an attaché in Mexico, Hovde commanded Ethan Allen Air Force Base and the 14th Fighter Group. He retired in 1967 and worked in the liquor business before finally retiring and moving to San Antonio. Hovde became president of the American Fighter Aces Association and died in 1996.

Early life
Hovde was born on 4 April 1917 in Crookston, Minnesota to Ole, a Norwegian immigrant salesman, and Lou Hovde. He graduated from Central High School there in 1935 and attended the University of North Dakota between 1936 and 1938, receiving a freshman scholarship award. He enlisted in the National Guard and joined the university ROTC program. Hovde successfully applied for the United States Military Academy and attended the Silverman Preparatory School in New York City after receiving his appointment to West Point. Hovde was entered as a cadet at West Point in July 1939. At West Point, he participated in athletics, including boxing. After completing pilot training, he received his wings on 13 December 1942, and was commissioned into the United States Army Air Forces as a second lieutenant on 19 January 1943.

World War II
Hovde completed Republic P-47 Thunderbolt training at Spence Field and was sent to the 355th Fighter Group's 358th Fighter Squadron in May 1943, serving as a flight leader. The squadron deployed to England in July. On 15 February 1944, Hovde was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 50 missions or the equivalent. Hovde claimed his first victory, an Focke-Wulf Fw 190 over the Münster area, on 22 February 1944. The squadron began converting to the North American P-51 Mustang in March.

On 18 March, Hovde flew in a penetration and target support mission for heavy bombers attacking a target in Germany. During the withdrawal from the target, Hovde spotted fifteen Fw 190s attacking the bombers, leading his flight in the attack and claiming one victory. This enabled the bombers to continue their flight back to England. The German fighters attacked again while Hovde reformed his flight. Hovde shot down another Fw 190. While returning from this action, he was attacked by two fighters, one of which he heavily damaged before running out of ammunition. On 5 June he was awarded the Silver Star for his actions.

On 4 April Hovde claimed a fourth victory. He received an Oak Leaf Cluster to his DFC on the next day for completing forty missions and shooting down a German aircraft. In May Hovde's first tour of duty ended and he returned to the continental United States for rest and recuperation, but volunteered for a second tour. Hovde returned to the squadron as its commander on 10 July. On 19 July Hovde downed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Augsburg, becoming the group's eighth ace. On 27 July he was awarded a second Oak Leaf Cluster to his DFC for claiming three victories. He commanded the squadron until 2 August 1944, subsequently serving as the squadron operations officer. On 15 September Hovde received a third Oak Leaf Cluster to his DFC for shooting down three enemy aircraft. On 5 December, during a bomber escort mission over Berlin, Hovde led the group in an attack on more than 100 Bf 109s and Fw 190s, shooting down five and sharing a sixth. In this action, his aircraft developed mechanical difficulties and his fuel reserve became critically short. On 13 March 1945 Hovde was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions. On 30 March, he was awarded a fourth Oak Leaf Cluster to his DFC for "extraordinary achievement" in combat missions. Hovde was credited with 10.5 victories in air combat and another damaged, as well as two resulting from airfield strafing.

Postwar
Hovde again commanded the 358th between 7 May and August 1945. Between October 1945 and March 1946, he was deputy commander of the 355th Fighter Group, serving on occupation duty in Germany. In Augsburg, he met Norma Gentner (died October 2000), a dancer whom he married in 1949. Hovde commanded the 357th Fighter Squadron between March and September. He then served with the 71st Fighter Squadron and the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron at March Field for the next two years. In September 1948, he went to Ecuador to serve as an advisor to the Ecuadorian Air Force for P-47 training. In September 1950, Hovde returned to the United States. He successively became operations officer, executive officer, and commander of the 335th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group in the Korean War, flying the North American F-86 Sabre. His command of the squadron ended after he was court-martialed for buzzing the Johnson Air Base golf course while the base commander was playing golf. Hovde later was executive officer of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing. He flew 44 combat missions and claimed one victory, a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, on 24 April 1951, between October 1950 and August 1951. Hovde was awarded a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster to his DFC for his actions in Korea.

Returning from Korea, Hovde attended the Strategic Intelligence School at Fort Myer. Between December 1951 and March 1955, he was the American Air attaché in Mexico City. In 1955, he was promoted to Colonel. Hovde became operations director of the 4709th Air Defense Wing at McGuire Air Force Base between April 1955 and May 1956. Hovde took command of the 14th Fighter Group and simultaneously was base commander at Ethan Allen Air Force Base until August 1958. He then attended the Air War College, graduating in July 1959. Hovde served at the USAF Headquarters on the National Security Council's Evaluation Subcommittee in the Pentagon until September 1962, when he entered the Defense Intelligence School Attaché course, completing it in February 1963. Hovde served as air attaché in Mexico City again until retiring on 30 June 1967.

Hovde spent nine years in the liquor business, and then retired to San Antonio. He became president of the American Fighter Aces Association and died on 13 March 1996. Hovde was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and Decorations
During his lengthy career, Hovde earned many decorations, including: