James Alonzo Walker Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant colonel
James A. Walker
Birth Date:20 September 1918
Birth Place:Manning, South Carolina U.S.
Death Place:Hayward, California U.S.
Nickname:Jimmy
Alma Mater:Hampton Institute
Birth Name:James Alonzo Walker
Allegiance:United States of America
Serviceyears:1943-1964
Rank:Lieutenant colonel
Unit:332d Fighter Group
Spouse:Cynthia
Children:4

James Alonzo Walker (September 20, 1918 – August 23, 2004) was an American aviator from Manning, South Carolina who served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. He flew more than 102 missions in the European Theatre of WWII, and was shot down in action over Serbia at the time occupied Kingdom of Yugoslavia by Third Reich (Germany). He was saved in Halyard Mission known in Serbian as (Operation Air Bridge) in July 1944t, by Chetniks and general Dragoljub Draža Mihailović. He served in the military until 1964. He became the first African American commander of an integrated unit in 1950.

Early life

He was born in Manning, South Carolina and his parents were James and Daisy. Walker went to High School in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] He went to Hampton Institute in Virginia.[2] Before joining the Tuskegee Airman Walker had 90 hours of flight time.

Career

Walker enlisted as a cadet and began military service in July 1941. He was assigned to the 99th Pursuit Squadron 332nd Fighter Group on June 1, 1942. Walker was in class Class 43-E-SE.[3] Walker was shot down over the in Serbia. He was missing for 30 days before returning to his unit.[4] He piloted a P-40 Warhawk in Europe during WWII.[5] When he was shot down he came across an armed teen: Aleksandar Zivkovic. The teen helped Walker elude the enemy and helped him get back to his unit 39 days later. Walker met with Zivkovic a half a century later and thanked him.[1] After that he was saved in Mission Haylard by Chetniks and general Dragoljub Draža Mihailović and was transported to Italy.

In 1950 at Langley Air Force BaseWalker was the first African American officer to have command of an unsegregated unit.[5]

Walker had served for 26 years eventually retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[6]

Awards and honors

See also

References

Notes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James Alonzo Walker . CAF Rise above .
  2. News: James A. Walker . 15 November 2021 . The Sumter Item . 30 August 2004.
  3. News: Tuskegee Army Air Field class 43-E, 1943 . 16 November 2021 . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 26 September 2009.
  4. News: Carter . Art . Down, Eager for Combat . 15 November 2021 . Baltimore Afro American . 5 May 1945.
  5. Web site: From Tuskegee Airmen to Wells Fargo team members . Wells Fargo . 16 November 2021.
  6. Web site: James Alonzo Walker . American Air Museum in Britain . Imperial War Museums . 16 November 2021.
  7. Web site: Kruzel . John J. . President, Congress Honor Tuskegee Airmen . Army . March 30, 2007 . U.S. Army . 25 July 2019.