The First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton continues its acclaimed Date with History series with a virtual program featuring Vietnam combat aviator Hugh L. Mills, Jr., co-author of “Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot in the Big Red One.”
Mills’ presentation (through Zoom) will be Thursday, July 1, at 7 p.m.. The program is free, but registration is required at FDMuseum.org.
The Vietnam aero scouts of the 1st Infantry Division had three words emblazoned on their unit patch: Low Level Hell. They flew low and slow as the aerial eyes of the division, searching for the enemy. The young pilots (19-22 years old) “invented” the book as they went along.
Mills was one of the most decorated soldiers among them. During two tours in Vietnam as an aero scout pilot, he flew more than 3,300 combat hours and developed many of the U.S. Army’s standard Air Cavalry aero scout tactics. He was shot down 16 times and wounded three times, earning numerous medals for valor.
Mills led Air Cavalry raids into Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam; commanded the Army’s first night-attack helicopter unit; and served as the Army Representative for Counter Narcotics to the Federal Aviation Administration. He retired in 1993 as a Master Army Aviator with more than 12,000 hours of flying time.
The First Division Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Entry is included with Cantigny Park’s parking fee. More information is online, FDMuseum.org.
—First Division Museum at Cantigny Park