Esteban Hotesse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esteban Hotesse (also known as Stephen Hotesse)
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| Born | February 11, 1919 Moca, Dominican Republic |
| Died | July 8, 1945 (aged 26) Jefferson Township, Switzerland County, Indiana |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 619th Bombardment Squadron 477th Medium Bombardment Group |
Esteban Hotesse (February 11, 1919 – July 8, 1945) was an American soldier and pilot during World War II. He was also known as Stephen Hotesse. He was a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force.
Esteban was a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. This was a group of African American military pilots and airmen. He was the only Tuskegee Airman born in the Dominican Republic. Sadly, he died in a B-25 Mitchell plane crash in July 1945.
Early Life and Family
Esteban Hotesse was born in Moca, Dominican Republic, on February 11, 1919. His mother was Clara Pacheco. When he was four years old, he moved to the United States. He arrived in New York in 1923.
Esteban married Iristella Hotesse, who was from Puerto Rico. They had two daughters, Mary Lou and Rosalie. Before he joined the flight school, his family lived in Manhattan, New York. In April 1943, he and his family applied to become U.S. citizens.
Military Career
Esteban Hotesse joined the Tuskegee Flight School Program on February 21, 1942. This program trained African American pilots. After completing his training, he became a second lieutenant and earned his flight wings.
Esteban did not fly in combat during World War II. He stayed in the United States during his three years of service. He was assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group. He also served with the 619th Bombardment Squadron.
The Freeman Field Mutiny
On April 5, 1945, Esteban Hotesse was among many black officers who were arrested. This happened during an event called the Freeman Field Mutiny. This event was about fighting against unfair rules.
At Freeman Field, there were two officers' clubs. One was for "supervisory and instructor personnel." The other was a less nice facility for "trainees." Colonel Robert Selway, a white officer, was in charge. He believed in racial segregation.
Colonel Selway decided that all members of the all-black 477th Bombardment Group were "trainees." This meant they could only use the less nice club. This was a way to separate the clubs by race. This rule was against U.S. Army rules. Army rules said that all officers' clubs must be open to everyone, no matter their race.
For two days, black officers peacefully tried to enter the "whites-only" club. On the first day, 36 officers were arrested when they refused to leave. The next night, 35 more officers were arrested.
Soon after, Colonel Selway made a new rule. This rule assigned specific housing, dining, and recreation areas to officers. He ordered each officer to sign a form saying they understood the rule. 101 officers refused to sign. They were arrested for not following orders. Esteban Hotesse was one of these officers.
On April 23, General George Marshall ordered the 101 officers to be released. General Henry H. Arnold then put Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. in charge of the 477th Bombardment Group.
Many historians believe the Freeman Field Mutiny was a very important event. It helped lead to the U.S. armed forces becoming fully integrated. This means that people of all races could serve together.
Death
Esteban Hotesse was a pilot with the 619th Squadron. On July 8, 1945, he died in a plane crash. His B-25 Mitchell plane crashed into the Ohio River. This happened near Vevay, Indiana.
The pilot, First Lieutenant Samuel A Black, Jr., and co-pilot, Glenn W Pulliam, also died. The engineer, Isiah Grice, was not hurt. The gunner, Napoleon G, had serious injuries.
The U.S. War Department explained the accident. The plane was on a training flight. The co-pilot was flying low, at 100 feet above the ground. The plane went too low, and water splashed onto it. Both pilots tried to pull up, but they could not. The plane crashed into the Ohio River. The front and back parts of the plane broke off when it hit the water.
Legacy
On August 23, 2018, Esteban Hotesse was honored. The CUNY Dominican Studies Institute and U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat held a ceremony. They gave his family a copy of the Congressional Gold Medal. This medal was awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen on March 29, 2007.
See also
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
- Dogfights (TV series)
- Executive Order 9981
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
