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Contact Info
Home Town Melrose, New Mexico
Last Address Joplin, Missouri
Date of Passing Jan 17, 2004
Location of Interment Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (VA) - San Antonio, Texas
He was the pilot in crew #2 on the Doolittle Raid. After the raid he stayed in the CBI Theater for a short time then served in England, North Africa and Italy until 1944. After the war he served in the USAAF & USAF until retiring from the Air Force Oct 31, 1969.
His DFC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Travis Hoover (ASN: 0-421149), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Pilot of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Lieutenant Hoover with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.
Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force Crew #2 (Plane #40-2292, target Tokyo): 37th Bomb Sq, L-R: Lt. Carl R. Wildner, navigator; Lt. Travis Hoover, pilot; Lt. Richard E. Miller, bombardier; Lt. William N. Fitzhugh, copilot; Sgt. Douglas V. Radney, flight engineer/gunner. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Synopsis of his Silver Star citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Travis Hoover (ASN: 0-421149), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during World War II.
General Orders: Headquarters, 15th Air Force, General Orders No. 588 (1944)
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 2-3 (pilot, radar operator, optional gunner) * Length: 49 ft 7 in (15.11 m) * Wingspan: 66 ft 0 in (20.12 m) * Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m) * Wing area: 662.36 ft² (61.53 m²) * Empty weight: 23,450 lb (10,637 kg) * Loaded weight: 29,700 lb (13,471 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 36,200 lb (16,420 kg) * Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-65W Double Wasp radial engines, 2,250 hp (1,680 kW) each * Propellers: four-bladed Curtiss Electric propeller, 1 per engine o Propeller diameter: 146 in (3.72 m) *
* Main wheel track: 17 ft 2 in (5.24 m) * Fuel capacity: o Internal: 640 US gal (2,423 L) of AN-F-48 100/130-octane rating gasoline o External: Up to four 165 US gal (625 L) or 310 US gal (1,173 L) tanks under the wings * Oil capacity: 22 US gal (83.3 L) of AN-0-8 oil per engine
Performance
* Maximum speed: 318 knots (366 mph, 589 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,095 m) * Combat range: 530 nm (610 mi, 982 km) * Ferry range: 1,650 nm (1,900 mi, 3,060 km) with four external fuel tanks * Service ceiling 33,100 ft (10,600 m) * Rate of climb: 2,540 ft/min (12.9 m/s) * Wing loading: 45 lb/ft² (219 kg/m²) * Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (25 W/kg) * Time to altitude: 12 min to 20,000 ft (6,100 m) (1,667fpm)
Armament
* Guns: o 4× 20 mm Hispano M2 cannon in ventral fuselage, 200 rounds per gun o 4× 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns in upper turret, 560 rounds per gun * Bombs: for ground attack, four bombs of up to 1,600 lb (726 kg) each or six 5 inch (127 mm) HVAR unguided rockets could be carried under the wings. Some aircraft could also carry one 1,000 lb (454 kg) bomb under the fuselage.