OFMC acquired the aircraft early in 1999 and now
carries the colours of Wallace E. Hopkins,
“Ferocious Frankie”, named in honour of his wife
Frankie, coded B7 H of the 374th Fighter Squadron,
361st Fighter Group. Wallace Hopkins was born in
Washington, Georgia and flew a total of 76 combat
missions with the 361st where he flew as Operations
Officer. He was an ACE credited with 8 victories and
1.5 damaged. His decorations include the Air Medal
and Distinguished Flying Cross both with Oak Leaf
Clusters and the French Croix de Guerre, one of four
awarded to members of the 361st.
A native of Washington, Georgia, “Hop”
Hopkins enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in 1939
and a year later entered pilot school. After
graduation on July 1941, he flew P-39s, P-40s, and
P-47s with the 8th Pursuit Group at Mitchell Field,
New York. Reassigned to the 361st Fighter Group in
1943, Major Hopkins was appointed Group Operations
Officer and flew P-47D, P-51B, P-51D and P-51K
aircraft on bomber escort and ground attack missions
from Bottisham and little Walden in England, St
Dizier, France and Chievrers, Belguim. Having been
promoted to Lt. Col. In 1944, Hopkins was appointed
Deputy Group Commander in April1945.
During the Korean War, Col. Hopkins served as Deputy
Wing Commander, 8th Fighter Bomber Wing, flying
F-80s. He retired on February 1968.
Colonel Wallace E. Hopkins, USAF (Retired), died on
26th April 1992 at the age of 74.
Victory Credits
| 29th May 1944 |
2 Fw 190’s destroyed
(Air) |
Vicinity Pitka, Poland |
| 29th June 1944 |
4 Fw 190’s destroyed (Gnd)
1.5 Fw 109’s damaged (Gnd) |
Oschersleben A/D,
Germany |
| 8th August 1944 |
2 Fw 190’s Destroyed
(Air) |
Vicinity Evreux,
France |
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