George J. Iles: Difference between revisions

George J. Iles
Born	George Jewell Iles November 6, 1918 Quincy, Illinois, US
Died	December 9, 2004(2004-12-09) (aged 86) California, US
Resting place	Sierra View Memorial Park, Olivehurst, California
Occupations	Military officer fighter pilot
Years active	1943–1973

George Jewell Iles (November 6, 1918 - December 9, 2004) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, former World War II Prisoner of War in Nazi Germany, and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails." He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

On February 25, 1945, the German military shot down Iles' North American P-51 Mustang, capturing and imprisoning Iles at Stalag VII-A. On April 29, 1945, General George Patton and his Third Army liberated Iles and 76,000 other POWs, as Patton's tanks captured Stalag VII-A], driving the Germans out.

Iles served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years, with tours in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Early life

Iles was born on November 6, 1918, in Quincy, Illinois, Adams County to George D. Iles and Juanita Howell Iles. Iles' father, George D. Iles, was a barber and later an employee at Firestone's Electric Wheel Works. The family lived at 1416 N. 14th in Quincy, Illinois.

Iles attended Lincoln Elementary, a segregated school. He played football at Quincy High School, graduating in 1935. The family lived at 1416 N. 14th in Quincy, Illinois. After enrolling at nearby Quincy College, Iles worked at the Civilian Conservation Corps for three years.

Iles was married to Cornelia Elizabeth Vinton Iles. They had two children: Bruce Adrian, a Corporal in the 5th Marine Regiment who was killed in action May 15, 1967 near Phuoc Thong, Vietnam; and one child who did not survive beyond infancy. When Iles left for the European Theater during World War II, Cornelia stayed with her mother at 2026 Spruce in Quincy.

World War II

In 1939 while still enrolled at Quincy College, Iles joined the newly formed Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), earning his civilian pilot's license. He became Quincy's first African American licensed pilot. In 1942, after serving as an interviewer with the U.S. employment service, Iles enlisted in the United States Army, and in June 1943, applied for Tuskegee's Flight cadet program.

On May 23, 1944, Iles graduated from the Tuskegee cadet pilot training school in its Class 44-E-SE, receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. The U.S. Army Air Corp assigned Iles to the 332nd Fighter Group, 99th Pursuit Squadron. After completing 90-day combat and fighter training at Walterboro Army Air Field in Walterboro, South Carolina, the U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Iles to the all-African American 99th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the "Tuskegee Airmen" or "Red Tails. He flew 23 missions in World War II's European Theater.

On the afternoon of February 25, 1945, German military captured Iles in Augsburg, Germany after German anti-aircraft artillery shot down Iles' North American P-51 Mustang. Iles made every effort to stay in the air, maintaining contact with his squadron leader who urge Iles to fly to neutral Switzerland where Iles or any other Allied military personnel would receive safe harbor until the end of World War II.

After losing radio contact with Iles, his squadron leader and senior brass had no idea whether Iles made it to a safe harbor, got shot down or killed. Nonetheless, the U.S. Army Air Corps sent an official notice, to Iles then-wife, Cornelia, indicating that Iles was missing in action and has awarded, in absentia, the Air Medal with one leaf cluster.

The German military imprisoned Iles at Stalag Luft 3, moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser, and finally to the multinational prisoner of war camp, Stalag VII-A, the largest POW camp in Nazi Germany. While imprisoned by the Nazis, Iles would reconnect with fellow 99th Fighter Squadron pilot/Cadet 44-E-SE classmate, Harold Brown (Tuskegee Airman), who had been shot down weeks earlier.

On April 29, 1945, General George Patton and his Third Army liberated Iles, Brown and 76,000+ POWs as Patton's tanks drove into Stalag VII-A.

Awards and honors

• Legion of Merit
• Bronze Star with cluster
• Air Medal with three clusters
• Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster
• Air Force Association's Certificate of Honor for Outstanding Service to the Cause of Human Rights by Virtue of Action Taken in Behalf of American MIAs and POWS in Southeast Asia.

Later life and death

After World War II, Iles returned to the United States, serving as a trainer at Tuskegee Air Force Field. Reenlisting on July 13, 1946, Iles attended Boston University, earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1948, and a master's degree.

During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Iles served in intelligence in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. He retiring October 31, 1973 as a full-bird Colonel.

Iles died on December 9, 2004, in California. He is interred at Sierra View Memorial Park in Olivehurst, California in Yuba County.

Legacy

• Iles created the Iles Academy of Golf for Kids in Maryville, California, a leadership and sports non-profit.
• George J. Iles Elementary School in Quincy, Illinois, opened in August 2018, was named to honor Iles.