James O. Plinton Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James O. Plinton Jr.
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| Born | July 22, 1914 |
| Died | July 4, 1996 (aged 81) |
| Resting place | Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, New Jersey |
| Alma mater | Lincoln University |
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| Years active | 1942–1946 |
James O. Plinton Jr. (born July 22, 1914 – died July 4, 1996) was an amazing American who loved to fly. He was a brave pilot and flight instructor with the famous Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Later, he became a very important leader in the airline business. He was one of the first African Americans to hold a top job at a big U.S. airline.
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Growing Up: James Plinton Jr.'s Early Life
James O. Plinton Jr. was born on July 22, 1914. His hometown was Westfield, New Jersey. His mother, Mary Williams Plinton, was from Virginia. His father, James O. Plinton Sr., came from Jamaica. His father moved to New York in 1904.
James Sr. was a survivor of a terrible boat fire. This fire happened on June 15, 1904. It was on the PS General Slocum steamboat in New York's East River. Over 1,000 people died, but James Sr. swam two miles to safety. He later became a dentist.
As a young boy, James Jr. faced unfair treatment. He was not allowed to join the Westfield YMCA. He also could not use its swimming pool because of his race. Years later, he became the President of the National YMCA. This showed how much he helped bring people together.
Education and Early Jobs
James Jr. went to Lincoln University in 1931. He earned a degree in Biology in 1935. After college, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He also worked for the Merchant Marine.
In 1941, he studied at the University of Newark. He earned a commercial pilot's license. He also became a flight instructor in November 1941.
James Jr. was married to Kathryn Hancock Plinton. They had two children together. Their names were Kathryn and James O. Norman Plinton. Kathryn passed away in 1993.
Flying High: His Military Career
When America joined World War II, James Jr. volunteered. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was sent to Tuskegee Institute. There, he became a civilian flight instructor. He later managed the civilian flying field. He was in charge of training all flight instructors.
He became one of the first African American flight instructors. He trained 150 pilots. Many of these pilots went on to fight in World War II. They flew in the European Theater. He was part of the famous 99th Fighter Squadron.
James Jr. graduated from Tuskegee's Service Pilot Cadet Training. He became a Flight Officer. He rose to the rank of Captain.
Breaking Barriers: Commercial Airline Career
After World War II, James Jr. wanted to be a commercial pilot. But major U.S. airlines would not hire him. This was because of his race. Instead of giving up, he looked for opportunities outside the United States.
He worked with Henry E. Rohlsen, another Tuskegee Airman. They helped start airlines in other countries. These included Andesa in Ecuador and Haitian International Airlines in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. On April 3, 1947, he went to Los Angeles. He bought planes for Haitian International Airlines. These planes would carry mail, passengers, and cargo in the Caribbean.
James Jr. received an award from the Governor of the Grand Turk Island. This was for landing the first aircraft there.
Returning to the U.S. Airline Industry
In August 1957, James Jr. returned to the United States. He used his connections to get an interview at Trans World Airlines. He became an executive assistant there. This made him the first African American executive at a major U.S. commercial airline.
In 1971, he became a vice president at Eastern Airlines. This was a very high position. He became the highest-ranking African American in a U.S. commercial airline at that time. He retired from Eastern Airlines in 1980. However, the chairman asked him to stay on for another year.
James Jr. was also a leader in his community. He served as the executive director of the Metropolitan Fellowship of Churches in Florida. He also chaired the Tacolcy Economic Development Corporation.
Later Years and Legacy
James O. Plinton Jr. passed away on July 4, 1996. He was 81 years old. He died from cancer in Lake Wales, Florida. He was buried in Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.
In 2006, the New Jersey Aviation Hall Of Fame honored him. They added him to their Hall of Fame. This was a special recognition of his important contributions to aviation.
See also
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
