War Correspondent for Associated Press, In 1942 he was one of eight journalists known as the Writing 69th trained to take part in bombing missions with the Eighth Air Force.



On 26 February 1943, after completing a week's training Hill and five other members of The Writing 69th participated in their first and last mission, flying over Wilhemshaven. Robert Post another journalist was killed and as a result, journalists were prevented from participating in further missions with the 8th Air Force.



Hill described the mission: 'It was thrilling. Yet at the same time it was strangely prosaic in the business-like efficiency with which it was executed.'



Hill nevertheless continued to cover the Allied air campaign against Germany, in 1944 he witnessed the Allied invasion of France, flying in a bomber and opened the Associated Press bureau in Paris. In January 1945, Hill joined the New York Times where he reported on the Allied advance eastwards. He was one of the first journalists to enter Berlin and to enter Poland.



Following the War Hill established a New York Times bureau in Los Angeles, he was dispatched to report on the assassination of President John F Kennedy. he worked with the New York Times for 44 years, reporting and writing books on Californian politics.