Perry M. Hoisington II – Major General, United States Air Force

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Perry M. Hoisington II, 90, a retired Air Force Major General and veteran of World War II, died April 8, 2006, at Suburban Hospital of congestive heart failure. He was a resident of the District.

General Hoisington was born at West Point, New York, and attended Johns Hopkins University before receiving his undergraduate degree and commission at the U.S. Military Academy in 1939. He trained as a pilot at Kelly Field, Texas, in 1940 and spent several years during World War II in the Air Training Command.

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1943, he joined the 20th Bomber Command’s initial B-29 unit and flew 22 combat missions against the Japanese, flying out of bases in India, China and the Mariana Islands. He also flew day and night missions over the Japanese mainland. In combat, he won the Silver Star and twice won both the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal.

After the war, he became the first commander of the Atomic Test Center at Kirkland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He was one of the first officers assigned to the newly created Air Research and Development Command in 1950.

He attended the Air War College and then served in Naples with NATO. Returning to the United States, he became a commander with the Strategic Air Command.

In 1961, he became deputy director of legislative liaison with the secretary of the Air Force and director in 1962. He retired as a Major General in 1965.

In retirement, General Hoisington co-founded Executive Jet Airways, a charter and aircraft management service now called Executive Jet Management.

His marriage to Betty Walker Hoisington ended in divorce.

Survivors include three sons, Gregory Hoisington of Sevierville, Tennessee, Perry Hoisington III of Fredericksburg and John Hoisington of Bend, Oregon; two sisters, retired Women’s Army Corps Brigadier General Elizabeth P. Hoisington and Nancy H. Smith, both of Annandale; a brother, retired Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Hoisington of Huntsville, Alabama; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.  His brother, Gregory Hoisington, Jr., First Lieutenant, United States Army Air Corps, was killed in a 1941 automobile accident and is also buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

MAJOR GENERAL PERRY M. HOISINGTON II
Retired June 30, 1965.  Died April 8, 2006.

Perry M. Hoisington II, was born at West Point, New York, in 1916, the son of Colonel and Mrs. Gregory Hoisington. He was one of six children, three boys and three girls.

Prior to his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1939, General Hoisington attended John Hopkins University, 1934-35.

One year after having received his degree and commission, he graduated from Kelly Field in Texas and became a pilot in the U. S. Air Corps.

For the first several years of World War II, General Hoisington served in the Training Command. He joined the first B-29 organization, the 20th Bomber Command, and served in combat actions against the Japanese from India, China and the Mariannas Islands. He participated in the first daylight and night missions of B-29s against the Japan mainland.

Following the war, General Hoisington was assigned as the first commander of the Atomic Test Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. This was followed by his attendance at the Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and assignment to the Air Force Office of Atomic Energy in the Pentagon.

General Hoisington was one of the first officers to be assigned to the new Air Research and Development Command when it was activated in 1950. Upon finishing this tour of duty, he attended the Air War College and was then assigned to NATO’s Allied Forces Southern Europe in Italy.

Upon returning to the United States, the General joined the Strategic Air Command where for 5 1/2 years he commanded the 818th; 57th, 820th, and 6th Air Divisions, respectively.

During the past year, General Hoisington has served as deputy director of legislative liaison, and has received orders to assume the position of director July 1, l962.

EDUCATION
John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York
Army Air Force Flying School, Kelly Field, Texas
Air Command and Staff School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
B-47 Transition Training School, McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas

DECORATIONS
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
American Defense Medal
Distinguished Unit Badge
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Army Combat Ribbon
American Campaign Ribbon
Commendation Ribbon
Three unit citations

HOISINGTON, PERRY M
MG   US AIR FORCE
DATE OF BIRTH: 03/14/1916
DATE OF DEATH: 04/09/2006
BURIED AT: SECTION 6  SITE 9239-EH
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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