More detail on this person: Donald (Don) Hildreth age: 74 died: Jan. 18, 2005 at Lady Lake, FL
from Cancer. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
01/11/2025
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Don graduated in Sept. 1965 as a member of flight class 56-10. He was selected to remain at Ft.
Rucker to instruct in the H-13. He became a member of the OH-13 Sq. Dance team and performed in
many shows. He later went to Korea to join the 6th Trans Co. flying H-21's. He returned to Ft.
Rucker for fixed wing qualification and then to Alaska where he participated in rescue missions with
the 65th Avn Bn. He returned to Ft. Bragg as a H-34 instructor pilot with the 6th Spc Forces Group.
In July 1965 he joined the 1st Cav Div, 227th Avn Bn at An Khe just long enough to be awarded
several Air Medals and the purple heart. On 14 Oct. 1965 a round went through his face shield
injuring his left eye and ending his flying career.
Don retired as a W-3 in Sept. of 1967 and moved to Lady Lake, FL and set out trying to conquer the
golf courses in that area. He will be missed by all his friends on the greens in that area as well
as his many aviation friends around the world.
Survivors: Daughters; Susan I. Sweeney, Cotuit, MA, Cynthia A. Carnegie of France; mother Ethel
Dinsmore, Easton, MA; brother John Dinsmore, Lyndonville, VT; sister Susan Burdette, Mesa, AZ and
three grandchildren.
From: James R Oden