William N. Alsbrook facts for kids

William Noel Alsbrook, Sr. (January 31, 1916 – January 5, 1998) was an American inventor and a brave combat fighter pilot. He was part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the "Red Tails." These pilots were African American and flew during World War II.

Early Life and Dreams

William Alsbrook was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on January 31, 1916. His mother, Elgeitha Dorothy Stovall Alsbrook, was a teacher. His father passed away when William was very young.

William lived with his mother, brothers, and his grandparents. His grandmother was a cook and janitor, and his grandfather was a butcher. They worked hard to support the family.

In 1935, William went to the University of Kansas. He studied mathematics there. To help pay for his studies, he worked as a porter at a clothing store.

Since he was a child, William dreamed of flying airplanes. This dream led him to transfer to the Tuskegee Institute. He joined their special aviation program to learn how to fly.

On October 5, 1943, William married Louise M. Brown Alsbrook. They had two sons, William Jr. and Reginald. William Jr. was born while his father was serving overseas during World War II.

Flying with the Tuskegee Airmen

William Alsbrook was accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps' Advanced Flight School. This school was located at Tuskegee Air Force Field. On October 1, 1943, he finished his training.

He earned his pilot's wings and became a 2nd Lieutenant. He was then assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group’s 99th Fighter Squadron. This was one of the famous Tuskegee Airmen units.

During World War II, Alsbrook flew 80 combat missions. He flew over places like Italy and Austria. He was a very skilled and brave pilot.

For his courage and achievements, William Alsbrook received important awards. These included the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Bronze Battle Stars. These awards honored his bravery in battle.

Life After the War and Inventions

After World War II, William Alsbrook wanted to become a commercial airline pilot. However, he was not hired because of his race. This was a common problem for African Americans at that time.

To support his family, Alsbrook worked for Zenith Electronics. He became a television and electronics technician. He was one of the first African American technicians at Zenith. He worked there until he retired in 1982.

William Alsbrook was also a talented inventor. He is credited with creating over 12 inventions. His most well-known invention was a special process. This process helped keep sandwich products fresh during shipping.

He received a patent for his idea two years before he passed away. He left the patent to his son, Reginald. Reginald used this invention to create new plastic wrappers. These wrappers are called the Pull Out Pouch Packaging System (P.O.P.P.S).

The Alsbrook family's business, Diana's Homegrown, used this invention. Their patented products were sold in many Target stores. They also had a large contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Later Years

William Alsbrook passed away on January 5, 1998, in Springfield, Illinois. He is buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield.

Legacy

• William Alsbrook's flight jacket is on display. He wore it during a mission in Austria in 1944. You can see it at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in their Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit.

See also

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