George R. Bolling: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
WP:MOSCAPS
Line 28: Line 28:
Bolling left [[Hampton Institute]] after being recruited into the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]].<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref> On July 3, 1942, Bolling graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School's Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-F, receiving his wings and commission as a [[2nd Lieutenant]].<ref>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.</ref> After graduation, the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]] assigned Bolling to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron.<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref>
Bolling left [[Hampton Institute]] after being recruited into the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]].<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref> On July 3, 1942, Bolling graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School's Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-F, receiving his wings and commission as a [[2nd Lieutenant]].<ref>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.</ref> After graduation, the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]] assigned Bolling to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron.<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref>


During combat missions, Bolling was shot down twice – once ditching in the [[Mediterranean]], where he was rescued after three days.<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref>
During combat missions, Bolling was shot down twice. On July 11, 1943, Bolling's aircraft was hit by an enemy ship's anti-aircraft artillery. Bolling bailed from his plane, landing in the [[Mediterranean]], where he was rescued by boat after three days at sea.<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref><ref> TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CHRONOLOGY. DANIEL L. HAULMAN. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY BRANCH. AIR FORCE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AGENCY. MAXWELL AFB, AL 36112-6424. 14 November 2011. "11 July 1943: The 99th Fighter Squadron drove off 12 German FW-190 fighters attempting to attack Allied naval vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. 1st Lt. George R. Bolling was hit by antiaircraft artillery coming from some of the vessels and bailed out. He later returned to the squadron after being rescued by boat. (99th Fighter Squadron history, Mar 1941-17 Oct 1943)." </ref>


In 1961, Bolling retired from the [[U.S. Air Force]] with the rank of [[Major]].<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref>
In 1961, Bolling retired from the [[U.S. Air Force]] with the rank of [[Major]].<ref>The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/</ref>

Revision as of 13:51, 9 August 2021

George R. Bolling I
Born
George Richard Bolling

August 4, 1920
Hampton, Virginia, US
DiedMarch 22, 2007(2007-03-22) (aged 86)
San Jose, California, US
Resting placeOak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California
Alma materHampton Institute
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
  • U.S. postal worker
Years active1942–1961

George Richard Bolling I (August 4, 1920 - March 22, 2007) was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the famed Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots.[1] He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[2]

Early life

Bolling was born on August 4, 1920 at the Hampton Institutein Hampton, Virginia.[3] He was the son of Edward A. Bolling Sr. (25 Jun 1884 - 20 May 1958) and Georgia A. Bridgeforth Bolling (Jan 1885 - 23 May 1946) of Lunenburg County, Virginia who married in 1916.[4]

Bolling had three siblings: brother Roscoe Howard Bolling (January 30, 1924 - January 30, 1924 -died in childbirth), sister Gladys Bolling Fletcher (May 6, 1922 - April 20, 2007), a Hampton Institute and Atlanta University-trained school librarian, and brother Edward Alfonzo Bolling Jr. (February 11, 1918 - Dec. 17, 1997), an agriculture engineering instructor/17-year manager of Hampton Institute's campus farm and U.S. international agricultural advisor to the federal government.[5][6][7][8]

Bolling attended all-black Whittier Elementary and Phenix High School in Hampton, Virginia.[9] After graduating from high school, Bolling majored in engineering at Hampton Institute(now Hampton University), graduating in 1940.[10][11]

Bolling married Dolores Bolling (July 25, 1924 - Feb. 22, 2014) of Apalachicola, Florida. Raised in Tallahassee, Florida, Dolores completed a bachelor's degree at Florida A & M University where she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Dolores relocated to Columbus, Ohio to live with Bolling who was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base. While in Columbus, Dolores earned a master's degree in Biology at Ohio State University. As the U.S. Air Force reassigned Bolling, the Bollings relocated throughout the U.S and Japan. After the family relocated to San Jose, California, Dolores taught biology at Sheppard Middle School for eight years.

Bolling and Dolores had three sons: George R. "Ricky" Bolling II (Died 2009), John Raymond Bolling, and Frank Daniel Bolling (1963 – July 12, 2004).[12][13] They also had one granddaughter, Francine M. Bolling.[14]

Military Career, Tuskegee Airmen

Bolling left Hampton Institute after being recruited into the U.S. Army Air Corps.[15] On July 3, 1942, Bolling graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School's Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-F, receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.[16] After graduation, the U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Bolling to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron.[17]

During combat missions, Bolling was shot down twice. On July 11, 1943, Bolling's aircraft was hit by an enemy ship's anti-aircraft artillery. Bolling bailed from his plane, landing in the Mediterranean, where he was rescued by boat after three days at sea.[18][19]

In 1961, Bolling retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Major.[20]

Post-Military Career

After leaving the U.S. Air Force, Bolling joined the U.S. Postal Service in San Jose, California, working there for 20 years.[21]

Death

Bolling passed away on March 22, 2007, in San Jose, California.[22] He was interred at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Herbert Vanallen Clark." https://cafriseabove.org/robert-ashby/
  2. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ Daily Press. "FORMER TUSKEGEE AIRMAN RETURNS." JUDITH MALVEAUX, Daily Press. https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20000814-2000-08-14-0008140067-story.html
  4. ^ Legacy. "Obituary: Gladys Bolling Fletcher." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailypress/name/gladys-fletcher-obituary?pid=87581510
  5. ^ Ancestry. https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/roscoe-howard-bolling-24-r3xc0m
  6. ^ Legacy. "Obituary: Gladys Bolling Fletcher." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/dailypress/name/gladys-fletcher-obituary?pid=87581510
  7. ^ Daily Press. "Obituary: EDWARD A. BOLLING JR." December 11, 1997. https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19971219-1997-12-19-9712190086-story.html
  8. ^ People Legacy. EDWARD ALFONZO BOLLING, JR https://peoplelegacy.com/edward_alfonzo_bolling__jr-1=0H4a
  9. ^ Daily Press. "FORMER TUSKEGEE AIRMAN RETURNS." JUDITH MALVEAUX, Daily Press. https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-20000814-2000-08-14-0008140067-story.html
  10. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  11. ^ National Hampton University Alumni Association. Raleigh Chapter - North Carolina. SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 2012. "Hampton's Influence on Tuskegee: Hampton's Heroes - Hamptonian Tuskegee Airmen and the History of Hampton's Influence on Tuskegee." JANUARY 15, 2012. https://nhaaraleigh.blogspot.com/2012/01/hamptons-influence-on-tuskegee.html
  12. ^ Legacy. Obituary: "George Richard Bolling." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mercurynews/name/george-bolling-obituary?pid=86913835
  13. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  14. ^ Legacy. Obituary: "George Richard Bolling." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mercurynews/name/george-bolling-obituary?pid=86913835
  15. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  18. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  19. ^ TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CHRONOLOGY. DANIEL L. HAULMAN. ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY BRANCH. AIR FORCE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AGENCY. MAXWELL AFB, AL 36112-6424. 14 November 2011. "11 July 1943: The 99th Fighter Squadron drove off 12 German FW-190 fighters attempting to attack Allied naval vessels in the Mediterranean Sea. 1st Lt. George R. Bolling was hit by antiaircraft artillery coming from some of the vessels and bailed out. He later returned to the squadron after being rescued by boat. (99th Fighter Squadron history, Mar 1941-17 Oct 1943)."
  20. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  21. ^ The Mercury News. "Cassidy: Long-overdue medal for Tuskegee Airman from San Jose." MIKE CASSIDY, Bay Area News Group. PUBLISHED: March 30, 2007.UPDATED: August 14, 2016. https://www.mercurynews.com/2007/03/30/cassidy-long-overdue-medal-for-tuskegee-airman-from-san-jose/
  22. ^ Legacy. Obituary: "George Richard Bolling." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mercurynews/name/george-bolling-obituary?pid=86913835
  23. ^ Legacy. Obituary: "George Richard Bolling." https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mercurynews/name/george-bolling-obituary?pid=86913835
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_R._Bolling&oldid=1037925549"