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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
Specifications StatsCentral Model North American F-86D Sabre Length 37.50 ft | 11.43 m Width 37.07 ft | 11.30 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x General Electric J47-GE-27, turbujet engine generating 5,970lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 10,950 lbs | 4,967 kg MTOW 17,000 lbs | 7,711 kg Max Speed 690 mph | 1,110 km/h | 599 kts Max Range 785 miles | 1,263 km Ceiling 50,000 ft | 15,240 m | 9.5 miles Climb Rate 12,000 ft/min (1,344 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 2.75in rockets
External provisions for 2,000 lbs of bombs Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-86 - Original Army Air Force prototypes (3) * YP-86A - Re-engined with GE J47 turbojet. * P-86A - Redesignated from YP-86A * F-86A - Redesignated production model from P-86A; Featured J47-GE-1 turbojet. * F-86D - Complete redesign of base model; Redesignated as night/all-weather aircraft; Hughes fire control system; J47-GE-33 turbojet. * F-86E - Slab tailplane adjustable inflight; J47-GE-27 turbojet * F-86F - J47-GE-27 turbojet; Extended leading edges. * F-86K - Based on F-86D model with J47-GE-17B tubojet. * F-86L - Rebuilt "D" model with updated electronics and larger wing surface
