Wendell Oliver Pruitt (1920 - 1945)

Born 20 Jun 1920 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Died 15 Apr 1945 at age 24 in Tuskegee, Macon, Alabama, United States

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Biography

Wendell Pruitt is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 302nd Fighter Squadron 1942-1945
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Wendell was born in 1920 to Elijah Pruitt and Melanie Macklin. He grew up in St. Louis. He attended Sumner High School, going on to complete his education at Lincoln University. He enlisted in the army in 1942, completing his civilian pilot training in Tuskegee Air Pilot Program. He received his commission on Dec. 13, 1942. ^[1]He was assigned to the 332nd Fighter group in Italy.

Capt Pruitt flew 70 missions while serving in the Mediterranean theater. He was credited with destroying 11 enemy planes and aided in sinking an enemy destroyer. ^[2] He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters. All in all, he had completed 350 combat hours with 70 missions. ^[3]

Wendell returned home after the cessation of hostilities. In December of 1944, there was a ceremony in honor of him in St. Louis, celebrating his accomplishments. ^[4]

On April 15, 1945, he was killed in an airplane crash with one of his students at the Tuskegee Army air field. He had only recently been appointed a flight instructor. He is buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in Normandy, St. Louis County, Missouri.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Daily Bulletin, Dayton, Oh, 18 Apr 1945, pg. 5
2. ↑ St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 25 Mar 1949, pg. 7
3. ↑ Lincoln Clarion, 20 Apr 1945, pg 1.
4. ↑ St. Louis-Globe Democrat 13 Dec 1944, pg. 7.
5. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22511/wendell-oliver-pruitt

• https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=323480