William Coleman Jr (1920 - 2010)

Born 8 Sep 1920 in Texarkana, Bowie, Texas, United States

Died 24 Mar 2010 at age 89 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

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Biography

Wililam Coleman Jr is a part of US Black heritage.

Wiliam was born in 1920. He was the son of William Coleman and Wessie Highshaw. ^[1]He was born in Texas, but his parents moved the family to Detroit Michigan when he was young. He attended Cass Technical High School, studying aeronautics. After graduating, he enrolled in Wayne State University and joined the US Army Air Corps. He entered the Tuskegee Air Pilot program in 1943, and finished the program on April 15, 1944. He was assigned to the 477th Composite Group and flew a B-25 Mitchell. ^[2] The 477th Bombardment Group were trained with North American B-25 Mitchell bombers, but they never were called to serve in combat. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and finished his education at Wayne State, earning a bachelor's degree in education. He taught health and phs ed in the Detroit Schools for over 30 years.

According to his obituary, he was proud to be part of the Tuskegee Airmen and loved sharing his stories about his time serving with the group.In 2006, he earned an honorary doctorate of community service from Tuskegee University. The next year, he and hundreds of other Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal at the U.S. Capitol.^[3] He passed away in 2010. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X799-XKL : accessed 25 March 2021), Willie Coleman in household of William Coleman, Detroit (Districts 0001-0250), Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 140, sheet 12A, line 28, family 26, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1036; FHL microfilm 2,340,771.
2. ↑ Detroit News, 8 Apr 2010
3. ↑ Detroit News, 8 Apr 2010
4. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBF3-W68 : 12 January 2021), William C Coleman, 24 Mar 2010; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).