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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 1309

The United States Air Force Distinguished Service Cross group of three awarded to First Lieutenant C. B. Hux, 367th Fighter Group, 394th Fighter Squadron

United States of America, Air Force Distinguished Service Cross (1st Lt. Charles B. Hux A.C.), in its case of issue; Air Medal, with two bronze oak leaf clusters, in its box of issue; Purple Heart (Charles S. [SIC] Hux), in its case of issue, note the incorrect middle initial, gilt and enamel, overall good very fine (3)

A.F.D.C. General Orders 17 December 1944, the original citation states:

'Charles B. Hux, 0-759016, First Lieutenant, AG, 367th Fighter Group. For heroic and outstanding achievement while participating in aerial flight in the European Theater of Operations. On 12 September 1944 Lt Hux led his flight of p-38 type aircraft with indomitable courage and brilliant flying skill on an armed reconnaissance mission over enemy occupied territory when he discovered a train carrying a large number of hostile personnel through a winding canyon. Despite the extreme hazards of low level flight in a canyon he led his men in repented attacks at tree-top level which resulted in the complete destruction of the train. Lt Hux's aggressive leadership and devotion to duty on this occasion reflect great credit upon himself and the Army Air Forces. Entered military service from Texas.'

A.M. General Orders 6 July 1944.

Charles B. Hux was born in Texas in 1923. Working as an Actor in Jim Wells, Texas he enlisted as a Private with the Air Corps on 5 January 1923 at San Antonio. Stationed at the Third Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment in King City, California, Hux's 'King's Log'- an annotated booklet covering this period- speaks to his experiences during this period.

Entering the war with 367th Fighter Group, 394th Fighter Squadron, with their main roll being close air support for ground troops, though they were never shy about engaging enemy aircraft as A Hero's Tale by Jack T. Curtis makes clear:

'This proved to me that our planes and pilots were much better thanthe [SIC] Germans. I have two very good friends who were FW 190 pilots who engaged our Group on 25 August 1944. We lost 5 P38s and they lost 2/3 of their 40 FW190s on that day. A good friend of mine, Larry "Scrappy" Blumer got 5 plans in less than 15 minutes making hime [SIC] the fastest "Ace in a Day".'

Awarded the Oak Leaves for his Air Medal on 21 July while still a Second Lieutenant Hux was promoted before December when he was awarded his second Oak Leaves as well as the A.D.F.C. The 394th Squadron was engaged in the Battle of the Bulge, escorting supply drops around Bastogne and launching ground attack missions. At this time German air attacks became more common with one aircraft 'Bed-Check Charlie' regularly buzzing their airfield. Hux himself was almost caught out by this as The Dynamite Gang by Richard Groh makes clear, stating:

'Occupying one of the 394th's sheet metal outhouses one night, he heard the sound of engines, and guessed that Charlie was making his rounds again. The engines grew louder, but did not bother Hux. Why the hell would they want to bomb an outhouse? Just then a half dozen machine gun rounds whizzed through his corrugated castle miraculously missing him. "Good God! This is not place to die!" he thought, and scrambled outside to one of the shelters. By the time he reached it, Charlie was already miles away.'

Later while flying a bombing mission over Frankfurt the 394th were the target of enemy flak. Hux took a direct hit, which blew out the canopy of his aircraft and set fire to the cockpit. He managed to bail out but lost consciousness before opening his parachute. Due to go on leave, he had cancelled it rather than leave the squadron to see out the final months of the war. Notably many of the documents dealing with his death refer to him as 'Charles S Hux', several even have a handwritten correction to the initial. Hux's body was never found and he is commemorated at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, Luxembourg; sold together with an original pilots log book, King's Log and Army Air Force badge along with original photographs and General Order's relating to the recipient's awards with copied research including census data, articles on 394th Fighter Squadron and 367th Fighter Group and personal records.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£100