Dover's 'first airman' visits base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Deanna McClay
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFPN) --  As he flew over the area on approach to the dirt "runway," he saw the farmhouse that would double as his office.

There were no dorms, no paved runway lined with C-5 Galaxies, and certainly no Super Port.

The year was 1941, and that was the first view of what Dover Air Force Base had to offer Drexel "Jack" Hite, one of the first three Army Air Corps men stationed here. The world was in the foreshadow of World War II, and times were uncertain. Hite was sent here to work as a teletype operator, ensuring important messages found their way to commanders. He, with the help of two other troops arriving later that week, established the first functional shop here.

"I can remember there was only one building on base, and that was a little two-story farmhouse," Hite said. "When you went up the steps, you thought they were going to fall down. I asked where my 'outfit' was and they said, 'You're it!'"

Although the facilities weren't ready for manning, they had to be manned nonetheless.

"For the first few nights, we slept on the floor of the farmhouse," he said. "Then we had to sleep downtown in the armory building because there were no dorms."

After a short furlough, Hite came back to the base to find out which unit he was assigned to, and what mission was in store.

"When I got back, I found out I was in Brig. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle's outfit, and I was going overseas to fight," he said "What an honor."

Doolittle was known for his great leadership. He was awarded the Medal of Honor and was promoted from colonel to brigadier general for leading the first bomber attack on mainland Japan in 1942.

Even though his first time at Dover was short, about four months, Hite said he will never forget the time he spent here.

"I met my wife, on a blind date, here in Dover," he said. "We were set up by a friend and went out on April Fool's Day, but I'm no fool, I asked her to marry me."

The couple was engaged, but not married right away.

"I told her I wouldn't marry her until I came back safe and sound from the war," Hite said. "That was 58 years ago."

Recently, the Hites visited Dover for the first time in 27 years. In that amount of time, the base has changed quite a bit, Hite said.

"It's like seeing the base for the first time," he said. "There was nothing here when I was (stationed) here."

The visit here was an exciting one for his family as well.

"It has been such a great day," said Lisa Sitko, Hite's daughter-in-law. "It's so moving to see him walk through the museum reminiscing and telling stories. He's really enjoying this."

After a walk through history with some help from the Air Mobility Command Museum, Hite was pleasantly surprised by a visit from Col. Bruce Busler, 436th Airlift Wing vice commander.

"It's an honor to come out and talk to a hero like you," Busler said. "Thank you for your sacrifices and your service."

The colonel then presented Hite with a wing coin.

"I can't believe this," said Hite. "This has been more than I could've ever hoped for."

As Hite pulled away, this time in a car instead of an aircraft, he was visibly moved.

“I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to come out and see a place from my past. And to meet the vice commander was wonderful," he said. "This has been a great day." (Courtesy of Air Mobility Command News Service)