John McClure (pilot)
John William McClure (December 7, 1919 - March 5, 1953) was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails". He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[1]
McClure was notable as one of the United States military's first African American combat fighter pilots. On August 5, 1942, McClure graduated from the Tuskegee Advanced Pilot Cadet program as a member of the fifth-ever Cadet Class Single Engine Section SE-42-G.[1][2][3]
Early life[edit]
McClure was born on December 7, 1919, in Princeton, Indiana, Gibson County.
McClure was married to Daisy Davidson, a school teacher and a member of well-known African American family in Kokomo, Indiana.[4][5] Daisy's sister, Winifred Davidson, married John O. Cunningham, a Muncie, Indiana native and graduate of Tuskegee's Liaison Pilot Cadet Section - CL-43-2 - October 22, 1943.[1]
Military Service, Tuskegee Airmen[edit]
In 1942, McClure enlisted in the U. S. Army at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence, Indiana. He was assigned to the Tuskegee Army Flying School. On August 5, 1942, McClure graduated from the Tuskegee Advanced Pilot Cadet program as a member of the fifth-ever Cadet Class Single Engine Section SE-42-G.[1][2] He was the fourth Indiana native to graduate from the Tuskegee Advance Flying School. McClure was also the first of two cadets with a Kokomo, Indiana address to graduate from the Tuskegee Advance Flying School.[6] He was one of the first thirty-four African American combat fighter pilots.[1]
During his assignment at Tuskegee, McClure crashed his P-40, incurring serious injuries, nullified a combat career. It is believed that McClure was the first of the 332nd Fighter Group pilots to survive a P-40 crash.[5]
After World War II, McClure transferred to Columbus, Ohio with the 99th Fighter Squadron.[5]
Death[edit]
McClure agreed to get surgery to address a minor issue that had continued to affect him post-crash. During the surgical procedure, McClure went into shock and never recovered. McClure died on March 5, 1953, in Kokomo, Indiana. He was only 33 year old.[5]
McClure was interred in Crown Point Cemetery in Kokomo, Indiana, PLOT Sec: 21, Lot: 108, Sp: 4.
See also[edit]
Other articles of the topic Biography : List of Mensans, MrWolfy, Icewear Vezzo, Bankrol Hayden, List of pneumonia deaths, Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albani, Donald Trump (born 1946)
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- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
- Military history of African Americans
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CAF Rise Above. "Class SE-42-G." https://cafriseabove.org/artifact/class-se-42-g/
- ↑ The World War II Multimedia Database. "99th Fighter Squadron Discusses Air Action Over Anzio." http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii0016
- ↑ "Obituary: Daisy McClure." http://edanddebby.com/HCC/Crownpt/McClure_Daisy.pdf
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 The 365 Project. "The Cunningham Story: Chapter 1: Genesis." https://www.the365projectys.org/copy-of-copy-p1-notable-black
- ↑ THE INDIANAPOLIS CHAPTER. TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, INC. https://www.indytuskegee.org/elementor-639/
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