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First Name
Leland
Middle Name
L.
Last Name
Hildebrand
Birthdate
Hometown
Butternut, WI
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Lee Hildebrand was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force as a 2d Lt and awarded his navigator wings at Harlingen AFB, Texas, on July 6, 1959. After completing B-66 Destroyer Combat Crew Training, Lieutenant Hildebrand served as an RB-66 and WB-66 navigator with the 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, followed by service as a C-54 Skymaster and C-118 Liftmaster navigator with the 7167th and 1455th Air Transport Squadrons at Rhein Main AB, West Germany. His next assignment was as an RB-50 Superfortress, C-54, C-118, and RC-135 Stratolifter navigator with the 1371st Mapping & Charting Squadron at Turner AFB Georgia and Forbes AFB, Kansas. Major Hildebrand then completed F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training before serving as an F-4 Weapon Systems Operator with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai AFB, Thailand until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 18, 1971.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Major Hildebrand was released during “Operation Homecoming” on March 28, 1973. He then received an Air Force Institute of Technology assignment to the University of Arizona. Colonel Hildebrand next served in the Directorate of Military Pay Operations with Headquarters Air Force Accounting and Finance Center, followed by service as Deputy Director of the Directorate of Settlement and Adjudication with the Air Force Accounting and Finance Center . His next served as Director, Cost and Management Analysis with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein AB, West Germany. Colonel Hildebrand's final assignment was as Comptroller and Director of Logistics Management Systems with Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, until his retirement from the Air Force on December 1, 1985. After retiring from the Air Force, Lee worked for Electronic Data Systems, retiring on January 31, 1996. Lee Hildebrand died on January 30, 2014, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star (6)
- Purple Heart
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release