Wilson V. Eagleson: Difference between revisions

Wilson V. Eagleson II
Born	Wilson Vashon “Swampy” Eagleson II February 1, 1920 Bloomington, Indiana, US
Died	April 16, 2006(2006-04-16) (aged 86) Dudley, North Carolina, US
Resting place	Markham Memorial Gardens in Durham, North Carolina, USA
Alma mater	West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University), Indiana University
Occupations	Military officer fighter pilot
Years active	1942–1972

Wilson Vashon “Swampy” Eagleson II (February 1, 1920 - April 16, 2006) was a prolific U.S. Army Air Force officer and decorated combat fighter pilot with the prodigious 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots. One of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, Eagleson II was one of the Tuskegee Airmen's most prolific pilots, credited with two confirmed enemy German aerial kills and two probable aerial kills..

He was also scion of the Eagleson Family, one of Indiana's most prominent African American families and public figures in the early 19th century. Eagleson's granduncle, Preston Eagleson, was Indiana University's first African American intercollegiate athlete. In 1916, Eagleson II's father, Wilson Vashon Eagleson Sr., became one of the first African Americans in Indiana University's Reserve Officer Training Corps program, becoming one of the very first African American U.S. Army officer. Eagleson Sr, North Carolina Central University's first baseball, football, and basketball head coach, is also the namesake of North Carolina Central University's mascot, The Eagles. Eagleson II's mother, Frances Marshall Eagleson, was Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana's first African American woman graduate.

Early 1950s, Eagleson II saved the crew of a cargo plane when anti-aircraft flak struck it, seriously wounding the pilots. Assuming the controls, Eagleson II safely flew the plane to the Philippines. The [[[U.S. Air Force]] awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics.

Early Life, Family, Scion of the Prominent Eagleton Family

Eagleson II was born on February 1, 1920 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a scion of the Eagleson Family, one of Indiana's most historic African American families during the early 20th century. His father, Wilson Vashon Eagleson Sr., in 1916, became one of the first African Americans in Indiana University's Reserve Officer Training Corps program. Eagleson Sr. also became one of the U.S. Army's first African American officers. Eagleson II's mother, Frances Marshall Eagleson, was Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana's first African American woman graduate. Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana named its Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center in honor of Frances Marshall Eagleson and Marcellus Neal, Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana's first African American graduate. In 1979, North Carolina Central University named a dorm in honor of Frances Marshall Eagleson, widely considered the third-most important individual in school history behind two university presidents.

Eagleson's granduncle, Preston Eagleson, was Indiana University's first African American intercollegiate athlete.

Raised in Bloomington, Indiana for most of his childhood, Eagleson II and his sister lived with his maternal grandmother; Bloomington's moderate weather was far more beneficial to Eagleson II's childhood rheumatic fever symptoms than Durham, North Carolina. His father, Eagleson Sr., became North Carolina Central University's first baseball, football, and basketball head coach. North Carolina Central University named its mascot, The Eagles, in honor of Eagleson Sr. Eagleson II's mother became North Carolina Central University's university Registrar, serving in that role for 48 years.

In 1933, Eagleson Sr., while working on his PhD at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, was killed in a car accident. In 1934, Eagleson II moved from Bloomington, Indiana to Durham, North Carolina to live with his grieving mother. He attended high school in Henderson, North Carolina.

After graduating from high school, Eagleson II attended West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University).

On May 1, 1943, Eagleson II married Geraldine R. Thornton. They had four children: Wilson V. Eagleson III, Gerald B. Eagleson, Diedra A. Coney, and Helen F. Eagleson. They also had 15 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. They divorced in

Pilot's Training, Military Career, Tuskegee Airmen

In 1938, Eagleson II acquired his civilian pilot's license at West Virginia State College. After being denied entry into the U.S. Army Air Corps as a pilot, Eagleson II moved back to Bloomington where he attended Indiana University for a year.

On January 19, 1942, Eagleson II enlisted in the U.S. Army as a member of its infantry. After two tours at Fort Walters, Texas as a trainee and a cadre, respectively, U.S. Army transferred Eagleson II to Fort Benning, Georgia for Officer Training School. During officer training in September 1942, Eagleson II was sent to flight school at Tuskegee Army Air Field. On April 29, 1943, Eagleson II graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-43-D, receiving his silver wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. The U.S. Army Air Corps assigned eagleson II to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron.

During World War II, Eagleson II proved to be one of the Tuskegee Airmen's most prolific pilots, credited with two confirmed enemy German aerial kills and two probable aerial kills. He flew an astounding 350 missions.

On August 15, 1944 during a bomber escort mission over Southern France, Eagleson II’s aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft flak, causing it to lose coolant. Eagleson II parachuted from his severely damaged aircraft. He was rescued and driven back to Ramitelli Air Field by U.S. troops who saw Eagleson II parachute and land nearby.

After World war II, the U.S. Army Air Corps transferred Eagleson II to Tuskegee, Alabama where he assisted in the closure of Tuskekee's flight program. After leavbing the military for two years, he reenlisted, working as a flight mechanic during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Early 1950s, Eagleson II saved the crew of a cargo plane when anti-aircraft flak struck it, seriously wounding the pilots. Assuming the controls, Eagleson II safely flew the plane to the Philippines. The [[[U.S. Air Force]] awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics.

In February 1972, Eagleson II retired from the military.

Post-Military

Eagleson II moved to New York where he raised horses and golden retrievers on his family farm. He later relocated to Goldsboro, North Carolina where he worked at Belk's men’s clothing department.

Commendations and Awards

• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Two Purple Hearts
• Three Presidential Unit Citations
• Red Star of Yugoslavia
• Korean Service Medal
• Vietnam Service
• Campaign Medals

Honors

• The Seymour Johnson Air Force Base's Tuskegee Airmen chapter in Goldsboro, North Carolina -- Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is named in honor of Eagleson II.
• The Smithsonian Institution displays some of Eagleson II's World War II memorabilia.

Death

Eagleson II passed away on April 16, 2006 in Dudley, North Carolina. He was 86. He was interred at Markham Memorial Gardens in Durham, North Carolina.

See also

• Executive Order 9981
• List of Tuskegee Airmen
• List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
• Military history of African Americans