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←Created page with '{{Infobox person | name = Walter I. Lawson | birth_name = Walter Irving Lawson | nickname = “Ghost” | birth_date = November 7, 1919 | birth_place = Chancellor, Virginia, US | death_date = {{death date and age|1952|02|26|1919|11|07}} | death_place = Omaha, Nebraska, US | resting_place = Arlington National Cemetery | alma_mater = Hampton Institute, now Hampton Un...'
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Revision as of 15:09, 25 July 2021

Walter I. Lawson
Born
Walter Irving Lawson

November 7, 1919
Chancellor, Virginia, US
DiedFebruary 26, 1952(1952-02-26) (aged 32)
Omaha, Nebraska, US
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Other names“Ghost”
Alma materHampton Institute, now Hampton University
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1942–1952

Walter Irving “Ghost” Lawson (November 7, 1919 - February 26, 1952) was an [U.S. Army Air Force]]/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Pursuit Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails". He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[1]

Lawson was one of America's first thirty-four African American combat fighter pilots.[2]

Early Life

Lawson was born on November 7, 1919 in Chancellor, Virginia, Spotsylvania County. He was the son of Robert Nelson Lawson (July 2 1886 - December 12, 1950), pastor of Spotsylvania County's First Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and Lillian M. Redmond Lawson (14 February 14, 1886 - April 3, 1977), a teacher and alumni of Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) and Virginia State College ((now Virginia State University.[3] He had two siblings: brother Robert D. Lawson and Prentiss A. Lawson.[4] He was raised in Newton, Virginia.[5]

Lawson attended Hampton Institute where he was a special studies student in the division of general studies.[6]

He was married to Cleo Hightower Lawson until his untimely death in 1952.

Military Career

On August 5, 1942, Lawson graduated from the Tuskegee Advanced Pilot Cadet program as a member of the fifth-ever Cadet Class Single Engine Section SE-42-G, receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with service number 0-791783.[7] [8][9] Lawson was one of America's first thirty-four African American combat fighter pilots.[10] The U.S. Army Air Corps assigned him to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron. Lawson was one of the original 28 99th Fighter Squadron pilots to be deployed overseas.[11]

After World War II, Lawson served in Korea and Tokyo, Japan. At the time of his death in 1952, Lawson held the rank of Captain.[12]

Death

On February 25, 1952, Lawson and a crew of fellow 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron members in a Boeing RB-50G Superfortress departed Hickman Field in Honolulu, Hawaii after two months stationed in Tokyo, Japan.[13][14][15]

On the morning of February 26, 1952 at 2am, their aircraft, piloted by Zane G. Hall, hit a mound of dirt on the runaway of [[Offutt Field[[ in Omaha, Nebraska, causing the plane to skid and explode. Twelve crew members including fellow Tuskegee Airmen pilot Monroe F. Stamps ("buddy" Stamps") were injured. Five crew members, including Lawson, were killed instantly.[16][17] Lawson was only 32 years old.[18]

On March 3, 1952, Lawson was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 1383, in Arlington, Virginia.American Air Museum in Britain. "Walter Irving Lawson." MILITARYhttp://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241763 </ref> In 1994, his wife Cleo was buried with him.

Years later, Lawson's family spoke with crash survivor Stamps to hear the details of the 1952 crash, allowing the family to grief and get closure on Lawson's death.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster." https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/
  3. ^ Lillian Lawson Obituary
  4. ^ Lillian Lawson Obituary
  5. ^ Newspapers.com. "Walter Irving Lawson in 4th class training as flying cadets for 99th Pursuit Squadron at Tuskegee." https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4662878/walter-irving-lawson-in-4th-class/
  6. ^ Newspapers.com. "Walter Irving Lawson in 4th class training as flying cadets for 99th Pursuit Squadron at Tuskegee." https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4662878/walter-irving-lawson-in-4th-class/
  7. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Walter Irving Lawson." MILITARY. http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241763
  8. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster." https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/ . This data derives from CAF Rise Above's research project compiling data from Tuskegee Airmen historians including the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  9. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Class SE-42-G." https://cafriseabove.org/artifact/class-se-42-g/
  10. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster." https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/
  11. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Walter Irving Lawson." MILITARYhttp://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241763
  12. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Walter Irving Lawson." MILITARYhttp://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241763
  13. ^ Aviation Safety Network. "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 70577." https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=70577
  14. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Walter Irving Lawson." MILITARYhttp://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241763
  15. ^ Liberty Lady. "29 MAR BUDDY STAMPS." Pat DiGeorge. https://libertyladybook.com/2012/03/29/buddy-stamps/
  16. ^ Aviation Safety Network. "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 70577." https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=70577
  17. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Walter Irving Lawson." MILITARYhttp://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241763
  18. ^ Liberty Lady. "16 APR CAPTAIN WALTER IRVING LAWSON." Pat DiGeorge. https://libertyladybook.com/2012/04/16/captain-walter-irving-lawson/
  19. ^ Liberty Lady. "16 APR CAPTAIN WALTER IRVING LAWSON." Pat DiGeorge. https://libertyladybook.com/2012/04/16/captain-walter-irving-lawson/
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