Luke J. Weathers facts for kids

Luke Joseph Weathers, Jr. (December 16, 1920 – October 15, 2011) was a brave U.S. Army Air Force officer and a skilled fighter pilot during World War II. He was part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the "Red Tails." These pilots were African American and made history during a time when the military was still segregated.

Weathers earned a special award called the Distinguished Flying Cross. He got this award for bravely protecting a damaged U.S. Army Air Corps B-24 Liberator bomber on November 16, 1944. He fought off eight enemy planes and shot down two of them!

After the war, in 1960, Luke Weathers made history again. He became the very first African American air traffic controller, working in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

Early Life and Family

Luke Weathers was born on December 16, 1920, in Grenada, Mississippi. His parents were Luke Joseph Weathers Sr. and Jessie Weathers. His family later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where his parents worked in a grocery store.

Luke went to Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis. He was a star quarterback on the school's football team. After graduating in 1939, he attended Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He later transferred to Lane College and earned a bachelor's degree in biology.

In 1947, Luke Weathers married LaVerne Nailling. They had five children together. Their wedding was even photographed by Ernest Withers, a famous civil rights photographer. Luke and LaVerne also had 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Military Service and Heroism

After college, Luke Weathers wanted to join the U.S. Army Air Corps' new aviation cadet training program. This program was for African American pilots in Tuskegee, Alabama. A powerful politician in Memphis, E.H. Crump, helped Weathers get into the program.

On April 29, 1943, Weathers successfully graduated. He became a 2nd Lieutenant and earned his silver wings, ready to fly.

Weathers was part of the 332nd Fighter Group's 302nd Fighter Squadron, known as the Tuskegee Airmen. They were called the "Red Tails" because of the distinctive red paint on the tails of their planes. Enemy German pilots sometimes called them "Schwartze Vogelmenschen," meaning "Black Birdmen."

One amazing story from his time as a pilot happened during a bombing mission. Weathers flew so low that he almost dropped his bombs on a wedding! He quickly pulled his plane up when he saw the bride's surprised face.

After World War II ended in Europe, Weathers was promoted to captain. He then worked as a flight instructor at Tuskegee.

Honoring a Hero

For his bravery in World War II, Luke Weathers was celebrated in his hometown. On June 25, 1945, the City of Memphis held a "Luke J. Weathers Day" parade. About 22,000 people came out to honor him on Memphis' famous Beale Street. He also received a key to the city. This was a very special honor because it was the first time an African American had been given such a parade and key in Memphis, which was still segregated at the time.

Weathers continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. In 1985, he retired as a Lt. Colonel after 23 years of military service.

Life After the Military

After leaving active military duty, Luke Weathers worked for companies like Philip Morris and Royal Crown. But he made history again in the 1960s. He joined the Federal Aviation Administration and became the first African American air traffic controller. He worked at the Memphis, Tennessee airport starting in 1965. He also worked as an air traffic controller in other cities, including Anchorage, Alaska, Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C..

Besides his work as an air traffic controller, Weathers was also an entrepreneur. He owned a coin-operated laundry business, a flight school, and a program to help veterans get back into civilian life.

Legacy and "Red Tails"

Luke Weathers passed away on October 15, 2011, at the age of 90. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on January 20, 2012.

On the very same day he was buried, a movie called Red Tails opened in theaters across the country. This film was about the brave Tuskegee Airmen and helped share their incredible story with a new generation.

Special Honors

Luke Weathers received several important honors for his contributions:

• Pinnacle Airlines named one of its planes "The Spirit of Beale Street" to honor Weathers and the city of Memphis.
• In 2004, The Pentagon unveiled a portrait of Weathers. It showed him escorting the damaged U.S. Army Air Corps B-24 Liberator bomber to safety during World War II.
• In 2007, Weathers and all the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. This is one of the highest civilian awards given by the United States Congress.

See also

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