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←Created page with ''''Edward Creston Gleed (November 5, 1916 – January 25, 1990)''' was an U.S. Army Air Force officer, solider with the famed Buffalo Soldiers/9th Calvary, 332nd Fighter Group’s operations officer, and combat fighter pilot with the prodigious 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots.<ref> CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed....'
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Revision as of 15:09, 31 July 2021

Edward Creston Gleed (November 5, 1916 – January 25, 1990) was an U.S. Army Air Force officer, solider with the famed Buffalo Soldiers/9th Calvary, 332nd Fighter Group’s operations officer, and combat fighter pilot with the prodigious 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots.[1][2][3] He was one of the more prominent members of Tuskegee Airmen's ninth-ever aviation cadet program, as well as one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[4]

His classmates included Robert B. Tresville Jr. (May 9, 1921 – June 24, 1944), West Point's seventh African American graduate and the 100th Fighter Squadron's Commanding Officer.[5][6]

Gleed was a member of the prestigious Syphax Family, one of the most elite African-American families during the 19th century.[7] He was the great-grandchild of Nancy Syphax, an enslaved house servant who was the granddaughter of Maria Carter Syphax, George Washington Parke Custis's mullato daughter. George Washington Parke Custis was First Lady Martha Washington's grandson.[8]

Early Life, Family, Ties to First Lady Martha Washington

Gleed was born on November 5, 1916 in Lawrence, Kansas. he was the son of Herbert J. Gleed (1885–1965) and Carrie Syphax Joseph Gleed (1888–1943), scion of the powerful Syphax Family, one of the most elite African-American families during the 19th century.[9] Carrie was the grandchild of Nancy Syphax, who was the granddaughter of Maria Carter Syphax, George Washington Parke Custis's mullato daughter. George Washington Parke Custis was First Lady Martha Washington's grandson.[10]

Gleed graduated from Kansas University. He also attended Howard University School of Law before departing for the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He was married to Lucille Elbertha Graves Gleed (March 22, 1917 - February 29, 2004). They had three daughters: Elizabeth Gleed Ingersoll, Elaine Gleed Williams, and Carol Gleed Weaver. They also had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[11]

Military Career, Buffalo Soldier, Tuskegee Airmen

On February 8, 1941, Gleed enlisted in the U.S. Army's 9th Calvary, best known as the famed “Buffalo Soldier” unit at Ft Hood, Kansas where he briefly served in military intelligence.[12][13][14][15][16] In In 1942, Gleed, transferred to Tuskegee, Alabama where he entered the Tuskegee Flight School's aviation cadet program.[17] On December 13, 1942, Gleed graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-K, receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, service number 0-794598.[18][19][20] His classmates included Robert B. Tresville Jr. (May 9, 1921 – June 24, 1944), West Point's seventh African American graduate and the 100th Fighter Squadron's Commanding Officer.[5][6]

The U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Gleed to the 332nd Fighter Group, where he became its Operations Officer as well as the Squadron Commander for its 301st Fighter Squadron.[21][22] He also served in leadership in the 477th Bombabdier Group

During World War II, Gleed had two official kills. He flew numerous bomber escort, patrol and strafing missions where he and his squadron destroyed bridges, oil refineries, supply dumps, and grounded aircraft. He is well known for his aircraft "The Creamer's Dream", which has been the subject to several famous photographs.[23]

After World War II, Gleed served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In 1970, Gleed retired from the military as a full Colonel after nearly 30 years and 6,000 flying hours in the U.S. Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force.[24] [25] [26]

Post-Military

After his retirement from the U.S. military, Gleed worked as a System Program Manager and Chief Administrator/Contract Negotiator for two defense contractors.[27]

In 1976 at the age of 60, Gleed graduated from Los Angeles, California's Southwestern University School of Law.[28]

Death

Gleed passed away on January 25, 1990. He was 73. Gleed was interred at Riverside National Cemetery, Plot Section 43, site 1462, in Riverside, California.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  2. ^ The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. "Edward C. Gleed Flying Jacket." Published May 04, 2015 https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196715/edward-c-gleed-flying-jacket/
  3. ^ Black Then. "EDWARD CRESTON GLEED: BUFFALO SOLDIER TO TUSKEGEE AIRMAN." JAE JONES. OCTOBER 12, 2018. https://blackthen.com/edward-creston-gleed-buffalo-soldier-tuskegee-airman/
  4. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b Stentiford, Barry M. (2012). Tuskegee Airmen. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 86-87,149. ISBN 978-0-313-38684-8. OCLC 750173825.
  6. ^ a b Francis, Charles E. (1997). Caso, Adolph (ed.). The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men who Changed a Nation. Boston, Massachusetts: Branden Publishing Co. p. 315. ISBN 0-8283-2029-2. OCLC 1036905711.
  7. ^ The White House Historical Association. "Nancy Syphax–Life and Legacy: Colonel Edward Creston Gleed." https://www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/nancy-syphax-life-and-legacycolonel-edward-creston-gleed
  8. ^ The White House Historical Association. "Nancy Syphax – Life and Legacy - an enslaved resident of the historic decatur house." https://www.whitehousehistory.org/
  9. ^ The White House Historical Association. "Nancy Syphax–Life and Legacy: Colonel Edward Creston Gleed." https://www.whitehousehistory.org/galleries/nancy-syphax-life-and-legacycolonel-edward-creston-gleed
  10. ^ The White House Historical Association. "Nancy Syphax – Life and Legacy - an enslaved resident of the historic decatur house." https://www.whitehousehistory.org/
  11. ^ Legacy. The Los Angeles Times Obituary. "Lucille Gleed." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/lucille-gleed-obituary?pid=1992000
  12. ^ The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. "Edward C. Gleed Flying Jacket." Published May 04, 2015 https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196715/edward-c-gleed-flying-jacket/
  13. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  14. ^ Black Then. "EDWARD CRESTON GLEED: BUFFALO SOLDIER TO TUSKEGEE AIRMAN." JAE JONES. OCTOBER 12, 2018. https://blackthen.com/edward-creston-gleed-buffalo-soldier-tuskegee-airman/
  15. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  16. ^ The American Air Museum in Britain. "Edward Creston Gleed." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241759
  17. ^ The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. "Edward C. Gleed Flying Jacket." Published May 04, 2015 https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196715/edward-c-gleed-flying-jacket/
  18. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ The American Air Museum in Britain. "Edward Creston Gleed." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241759
  21. ^ The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. "Edward C. Gleed Flying Jacket." Published May 04, 2015 https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196715/edward-c-gleed-flying-jacket/
  22. ^ CAF Rise Above. National Park Service, Museum Management Program Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  23. ^ " Edward C. Gleed, Crewmen and the "Creamer's Dream"" Toni Frissell. March 1945. Crewmen adjust a drop tank on the P-5/D "Creamer's Dream" at Ramitelli, Italy. Library of Congress, LC-F9-02-4503-330 -10 https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/tuskegee_airmen/planes_pilots/LC-F9-02-4503-330-11.CreamersDream.html
  24. ^ Black Then. "EDWARD CRESTON GLEED: BUFFALO SOLDIER TO TUSKEGEE AIRMAN." JAE JONES. OCTOBER 12, 2018. https://blackthen.com/edward-creston-gleed-buffalo-soldier-tuskegee-airman/
  25. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  26. ^ The White House Historical Association. "Nancy Syphax – Life and Legacy - an enslaved resident of the historic decatur house." https://www.whitehousehistory.org/
  27. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  28. ^ CAF Rise Above. "Edward Creston Gleed."https://cafriseabove.org/edward-creston-gleed/
  29. ^ The American Air Museum in Britain. "Edward Creston Gleed." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241759
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