Part Of Hillsdale Road To Be Renamed After WWII Air Combat Veteran

HILLSDALE, NJ — Part of Church Road will be renamed Friday in honor of a borough World War II veteran.

The causeway portion of Church Road that runs over Woodcliff Lake will be renamed the Col. Frank A. Hill Causeway, the borough announced this week. A plaque will be placed on the roadway, as well.

The dedication ceremony will be Friday at 4 p.m. at the intersection of Church and Reservoir roads.

Hill joined the Army Air Corps, the predecessor to the Air Force, in 1939. He flew 166 combat missions in Europe and Africa during World War II. He was credited with being the first pilot of an all-American group to shoot down a German fighter plane in combat. He became the first ace of the 31st Fighter Group in 1943 and also commanded it.

During his 30-year military career, Hill received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, the Air Medal, Legion of Merit and five Air force Commendation medals.

Hill was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame in 2002, 10 years before his died.

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