He was also the first American pilot, in 1952, to make a deep-penetration overflight of Soviet territory for the purpose of aerial reconnaissance.

He graduated from Broadway High School, and attended the University of Washington for a short time before transferring to Virginia Military Academy.

[1] Hillman joined up in October 1940, and underwent his flight training with the Army Air Corps.

[1] On October 15, 1952, a Boeing B-47B Stratojet piloted by then Colonel Hillman, deputy commander of the 306th Bombardment Wing, left Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska.

It crossed over the Arctic Ocean, turned eastwards back over Siberia, and returned to Eielson via Provideniya.