Wilson V. Eagleson facts for kids

Wilson Vashon Swampy Eagleson II (born February 1, 1920 – died April 16, 2006) was a brave pilot in the United States Army Air Force. He was part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American military pilots who fought in World War II.

Eagleson was one of 1,007 pilots in this special group. He was known for his amazing flying skills. During World War II, he shot down two enemy German planes and likely shot down two more. Later, in the early 1950s, he saved an entire crew of a large U.S. Air Force cargo plane. The plane was hit by enemy fire, and the pilots were badly hurt. Eagleson took control and safely landed the plane in the Philippines. For his heroism, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Early Life and Family History

Wilson V. Eagleson II was born on February 1, 1920, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He came from a very important family. His father, Wilson Vashon Eagleson Sr., was one of the first African Americans to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Indiana University in 1916. He also became one of the first African American officers in the U.S. Army.

Eagleson's mother, Frances Marshall Eagleson, was the first African American woman to graduate from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. His grandfather, Halson V. Eagleson Sr., was a successful barber. He also started an orphanage for African American children and worked for civil rights. All five of Halson V. Eagleson Sr.'s sons went to Indiana University. One of them, Preston, was the first African American to play sports for the university.

Wilson V. Eagleson II grew up mostly in Bloomington, Indiana, with his maternal grandmother and sister. His father became the first head coach for baseball, football, and basketball at North Carolina Central University. The university's mascot, "The Eagles," is named after him. Eagleson II's mother worked as the Registrar at North Carolina Central University for almost 50 years.

In 1933, Eagleson II's father died in a car accident in West Virginia. He was teaching chemistry at West Virginia State College. In 1934, Eagleson II moved to Durham, North Carolina, to live with his mother. He went to high school in Henderson, North Carolina.

After high school, Eagleson II attended West Virginia State College. In 1938, he earned his civilian pilot's license there. West Virginia State College was one of the first six historically black colleges and universities to have an aviation program. Eagleson II tried to join the U.S. Army Air Corps as a pilot but was not accepted at first. He then went to Indiana University for a year.

On May 1, 1943, Eagleson II married Geraldine R. Thornton, who was a student at Tuskegee Institute. He even named his P-40 Warhawk plane "Gerry" after her! Wilson and Geraldine had four children: Wilson V. Eagleson III, Gerald B. Eagleson, Diedra A. Coney, and Helen F. Eagleson. They also had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Military Career and Heroic Flights

On January 19, 1942, Wilson V. Eagleson II joined the U.S. Army as an infantry soldier. He was a strong, football player-built man. After training, he was sent to Officer Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1942. During his training, his commander surprised him by telling him he was accepted into the Aviation Cadet program. This program was at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama.

On April 29, 1943, Eagleson II completed his training. He earned his pilot wings and became a 2nd Lieutenant. The U.S. Army Air Corps assigned him to the 99th Fighter Squadron, which was part of the 332nd Fighter Group. While at Tuskegee, he was known for being a bit wild. He often had to do extra tasks to make up for getting demerits, like for walking around with his shirt untucked!

In late 1943, he joined the 99th Fighter Squadron in North Africa. During the Battle of Anzio, Italy, in January 1944, Eagleson II was credited with shooting down two enemy German planes. He also likely shot down two more. He flew an incredible 350 missions! On August 15, 1944, during a mission over Southern France, his plane was hit by anti-aircraft flak over northern Italy. His plane lost coolant, so Eagleson II had to parachute out. U.S. troops saw him land and rescued him, driving him back to his air field.

After World War II, Eagleson II helped close down Tuskegee's flight program. He left the military for two years but then rejoined. He worked as a flight mechanic during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

In the early 1950s, Eagleson II showed great bravery. An U.S. Air Force cargo plane was hit by enemy fire, and its pilots were seriously wounded. Eagleson II took over the controls and safely flew the plane to the Philippines. The U.S. Air Force gave him the Distinguished Flying Cross for this heroic act.

Eagleson II retired from the military in February 1972.

Awards and Recognition

Wilson V. Eagleson II received many awards for his service:

• Distinguished Flying Cross
• Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters (meaning he received it seven times)
• Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster (meaning he received it twice for being wounded)
• Red Star of Yugoslavia
• Korean Service Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Several Campaign Medals

Later Life and Legacy

After retiring, Eagleson II moved to New York. There, he raised horses and golden retrievers on his family farm. Later, he moved to Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he worked in the men's clothing department at Belk.

Wilson V. Eagleson II passed away on April 16, 2006, in Dudley, North Carolina, at 86 years old. He was buried at Markham Memorial Gardens in Durham, North Carolina.

Honors and Tributes

• A chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen organization in Goldsboro, North Carolina, is named in his honor: the Wilson V. Eagleson Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
• Some of Eagleson II's items from World War II are displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, a famous museum in Washington D.C.

See also

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