Arthur Ray Hawkins
Encyclopedia
Arthur Ray "Hawk" Hawkins was the U.S. Navy's 10th leading Ace
with 14 Aerial Victories to his credit.
, Texas
on December 12, 1922. At the age of 19 in 1942, he joined the Navy after the death of his brother, an Army Air Force fighter pilot, who was shot down in the South Pacific.
and commissioned an Ensign
on January 1, 1943. He was then attached to VF-31
aboard USS Cabot (CVL-28)
from January to October 1944.
While flying from Cabot in 1944, Hawkins was credited with 14 confirmed and three probable kills, all while flying F-6F Hellcats. His first victory was near Truk Islands on 29 April 1944 when, seconds after launch from Cabot, he shot down an attacking Japanese torpedo bomber. He subsequently shot down three enemy aircraft on June 19 during the Marianas Turkey Shoot, one aircraft on July 8 during the Battle of Guam, 5 aircraft on September 13 near Mindanao
Philippines, and 4 enemy aircraft on September 21 during the Battle of Luzon
Philippines. Hawkins volunteered for a second tour of duty aboard USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)
from June 1945 through October 1945 when VF-31 was dissolved. Hawkins' war record included destroying 39 aircraft on the ground and assisting in the sinking of a battleship. He was awarded the Navy Cross
(3 awards), the Distinguished Flying Cross
(3 awards), and three Air Medal
s. After the war, Lt Hawkins was selected to fly with the US Navy Blue Angels
flight demonstration team from 1948, flying the Grumman F8F Bearcat
piston aircraft, through 1950 flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet aircraft.
broke out in 1950, the Blue Angels were dissolved, with the majority of the pilots forming the VF-191
Satan's Kittens. Hawkins served as the squadron's Executive Officer, flying 40 combat missions from the deck of USS Princeton (CV-37)
, and participating in the first carrier-based jet bombing mission of the war.
After the Korean War, the Blue Angels were re-formed and Lt Cmdr. Hawkins was recalled as their flight leader from 1952 through 1953. During this time, he was the first pilot to survive ejection from a supersonic
aircraft.
, where he worked to recover Japanese family artifacts lost during World War II. For this work, he was awarded the Emperor of Japan
Third Order of the Sacred Treasure
, which is the highest Japanese award ever given to a foreign military officer.
Ray Hawkins retired from the US Navy as a Captain in 1973 and subsequently worked with the National Museum of Naval Aviation
in Pensacola
, Florida
, retiring in 1997 as chief of staff.
In 1984 Captain Hawkins was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
, and was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2006, Captain Hawkins was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
. Arthur Ray Hawkins died on March 21, 2004 in Pensacola, Florida.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
with 14 Aerial Victories to his credit.
Biography
Hawkins was born in ZavallaZavalla, Texas
Zavalla is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. The population was 647 at the 2000 census. The town is named for Lorenzo de Zavala, a Mexican rancher, politician, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence who served as the first Vice-President of the Republic of...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
on December 12, 1922. At the age of 19 in 1942, he joined the Navy after the death of his brother, an Army Air Force fighter pilot, who was shot down in the South Pacific.
1940s
He was designated a Naval AviatorNaval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
and commissioned an Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
on January 1, 1943. He was then attached to VF-31
VF-31
VFA-31 or Strike Fighter Squadron 31 is known as the Tomcatters, callsign "Felix", a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet.-Squadron insignia and nickname:...
aboard USS Cabot (CVL-28)
USS Cabot (CVL-28)
USS Cabot was an in the United States Navy, the second ship to carry the name. Cabot was commissioned in 1943 and served until 1947. She was recommissioned as a training carrier from 1948 to 1955. From 1967 to 1989, she served in Spain as '...
from January to October 1944.
While flying from Cabot in 1944, Hawkins was credited with 14 confirmed and three probable kills, all while flying F-6F Hellcats. His first victory was near Truk Islands on 29 April 1944 when, seconds after launch from Cabot, he shot down an attacking Japanese torpedo bomber. He subsequently shot down three enemy aircraft on June 19 during the Marianas Turkey Shoot, one aircraft on July 8 during the Battle of Guam, 5 aircraft on September 13 near Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
Philippines, and 4 enemy aircraft on September 21 during the Battle of Luzon
Battle of Luzon
The Battle of Luzon was a land battle fought as part of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony The Philippines, and Mexico against forces of the Empire of Japan. The battle resulted in a U.S. and Filipino victory...
Philippines. Hawkins volunteered for a second tour of duty aboard USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)
USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)
USS Belleau Wood was a United States Navy active during World War II in the Pacific Theater, from 1943 to 1945. The ship also served in the First Indochina War under French Navy temporary service as Bois Belleau....
from June 1945 through October 1945 when VF-31 was dissolved. Hawkins' war record included destroying 39 aircraft on the ground and assisting in the sinking of a battleship. He was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
(3 awards), the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
(3 awards), and three Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s. After the war, Lt Hawkins was selected to fly with the US Navy Blue Angels
Blue Angels
The United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team...
flight demonstration team from 1948, flying the Grumman F8F Bearcat
F8F Bearcat
The Grumman F8F Bearcat was an American single-engine naval fighter aircraft of the 1940s. It went on to serve into the mid-20th century in the United States Navy and other air forces, and would be the company's final piston engined fighter aircraft...
piston aircraft, through 1950 flying the Grumman F9F-2 Panther jet aircraft.
1950s
When the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
broke out in 1950, the Blue Angels were dissolved, with the majority of the pilots forming the VF-191
VF-191
VF-191 or Fighter Squadron 191 of the United States Navy was established in 1943 and disestablished in 1978. A second squadron, bearing the same designation was established for a short time again between 1986 and 1988.-History:...
Satan's Kittens. Hawkins served as the squadron's Executive Officer, flying 40 combat missions from the deck of USS Princeton (CV-37)
USS Princeton (CV-37)
USS Princeton was one of 24 s built during and shortly after World War II for the United States Navy. The ship was the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, and was named for the Revolutionary War Battle of Princeton...
, and participating in the first carrier-based jet bombing mission of the war.
After the Korean War, the Blue Angels were re-formed and Lt Cmdr. Hawkins was recalled as their flight leader from 1952 through 1953. During this time, he was the first pilot to survive ejection from a supersonic
Supersonic
Supersonic speed is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound . For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C this speed is approximately 343 m/s, 1,125 ft/s, 768 mph or 1,235 km/h. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound are often...
aircraft.
1960s-2000s
In the 60's, he commanded NAS Atsugi in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where he worked to recover Japanese family artifacts lost during World War II. For this work, he was awarded the Emperor of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
Third Order of the Sacred Treasure
Order of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
, which is the highest Japanese award ever given to a foreign military officer.
Ray Hawkins retired from the US Navy as a Captain in 1973 and subsequently worked with the National Museum of Naval Aviation
National Museum of Naval Aviation
The National Museum of Naval Aviation is a military and aerospace museum located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The museum opened in 1962....
in Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, retiring in 1997 as chief of staff.
In 1984 Captain Hawkins was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
, and was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2006, Captain Hawkins was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
The United States Naval Aviation Hall of Honor, located at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, recognizes individuals "who by their actions or achievements made outstanding contributions to Naval Aviation." Since its inception in 1979, the Hall of Honor has enshrined 80 people...
. Arthur Ray Hawkins died on March 21, 2004 in Pensacola, Florida.