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George J. Iles

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For the New Zealand rugby league winger and centre, see George Iles.
George J. Iles
Born
George Jewell Iles

November 6, 1918
Quincy, Illinois, US
DiedDecember 9, 2004(2004-12-09) (aged 86)
California, US
Resting placeSierra View Memorial Park, Olivehurst, California
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1943–1973
AwardsCongressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen

George Jewell Iles (November 6, 1918 – December 9, 2004) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, former World War II Prisoner of War in Nazi Germany, and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen.[1]

On February 25, 1945, Iles was shot down, captured and eventually imprisoned in Stalag VII-A, the largest POW camp in Nazi Germany.[2] On April 29, 1945, General George Patton and his Third Army liberated Iles and 76,000 other POWs.[3]

Iles served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years, including service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.[3]

Early life

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Iles was born on November 6, 1918, in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois to George D. Iles and Juanita Howell Iles.[4] His father was a barber and later was an employee at Firestone's Electric Wheel Works.[3][4]

Iles attended Lincoln Elementary, a segregated school. Later he attended Quincy High School, graduating in 1935.[4] After graduating from high school, Iles worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps for three years before enrolling in Quincy College.[3]

World War II

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P-51 aircraft with red markings.[N 1]

Iles joined the newly formed Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), earning his civilian pilot's license in 1939. He became Quincy's first African American licensed pilot.[3] In 1942 Iles enlisted in the United States Army. In June, 1943, he was accepted for Tuskegee's Flight cadet program. An earlier application had been rejected.[3][6]

On May 23, 1944, Iles graduated from the Tuskegee cadet pilot training school in its Class 44-E-SE, receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. After completing 90-day combat and fighter training at Walterboro Army Air Field in Walterboro, South Carolina, the U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Iles to the all-African American 99th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the "Tuskegee Airmen" or "Red Tails.[4] He flew 23 missions in World War II's European Theater.[3]

On the afternoon of February 25, 1945, the German military captured Iles in Augsburg, Germany after anti-aircraft artillery damaged his North American P-51 Mustang.[2] Iles made every effort to stay in the air, maintaining contact with his squadron leader who urged Iles to fly to neutral Switzerland. After losing radio contact with Iles, his commanders were unable to determine if Iles managed to reach Switzerland, had been shot down and captured, or killed. The U.S. Army Air Corps sent an official notice to Iles' then-wife, Cornelia, indicating he was listed as missing in action and had been awarded, in absentia, the Air Medal with one leaf cluster.[2]

The Germans initially held Iles at Stalag Luft 3, then at Nuremberg-Langwasser, before transferring him to the 86 acre, multinational prisoner of war camp, Stalag VII-A, the largest POW camp in Nazi Germany.[2] While imprisoned, Iles would reconnect with fellow 99th Fighter Squadron pilot/Cadet 44-E-SE classmate, Harold Brown (Tuskegee Airman), who had been shot down weeks earlier.[7][8][9]

On April 29, 1945, General George Patton and his Third Army liberated Iles, Brown, and 76,000+ other POWs when they captured Stalag VII-A.[3]

Later life and death

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Iles' first wife was Cornelia Elizabeth Vinton Iles. When Iles left for the European Theater during World War II, Cornelia stayed with her mother in Quincy, Illinois, later moving to Denver, Colorado when Iles returned from the war. They had two children: one who did not survive beyond infancy and Bruce Adrion Iles, a U.S. Marine Corporal and rifleman who served Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (First Infantry Division) in Vietnam.[10][2] On May 15, 1967, Bruce was killed in action by small arms fire near Phuoc Thong, Quang Nam province, South Vietnam.[10][6] Bruce was interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, Denver County.[10]

Iles' second wife Jola (Vola) Marie Neesen Iles, was a Dutch woman from Venlo, Holland. They had one son, Danny. They settled in Marysville, California.[6]

After World War II, Iles returned to the United States, serving as a trainer at Tuskegee Air Force Field. He reenlisted on July 13, 1946.[3] In 1948, Iles graduated from Boston University, earning a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. He also earned a master's degree.[3]

During the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Iles served in intelligence in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. He retired October 31, 1973 as a Colonel.[3]

Iles died on December 9, 2004, in California. He is interred at Sierra View Memorial Park in Olivehurst, California in Yuba County.[6] His wife Jola died a year later and is buried by his side.[11]

Legacy

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  • Iles created the Iles Academy of Golf for Kids in Maryville, California, a leadership and sports non-profit.[3]
  • George J. Iles Elementary School in Quincy, Illinois, opened in August 2018, was named to honor Iles.[3][12]
  • In 2020 as part of the Moorman Foundation and Arts Quincy's "Celebration of Education" series, Cedar Falls, Iowa Sculptor Tim Jorgensen installed his "Red Tails" sculptor at Iles' namesake, the George J. Iles Elementary School in Quincy, Illinois.[13]

Awards and honors

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  • Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Tuskegee Airmen in 2006[14]
  • Legion of Merit[3]
  • Bronze Star with cluster[3]
  • Air Medal with three clusters[3]
  • Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster[3]
  • Air Force Association's Certificate of Honor for Outstanding Service to the Cause of Human Rights by Virtue of Action Taken in Behalf of American MIAs and POWS in Southeast Asia.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Caf Rise Above. "Tuskegee-Airmen-POWs." https://cafriseabove.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Tuskegee-Airmen-POWs.pdf Archived 2021-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Caf Rise Above. "George Jewell Iles." https://cafriseabove.org/george-jewell-iles/
  4. ^ a b c d "Col. George Iles: Pilot from Quincy to the world". www.hsqac.org. 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  5. ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  6. ^ a b c d "Col. George Isles: Pilot from Quincy to the world, Part 2". www.hsqac.org. 2018-12-23. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  7. ^ POW CAPTURE, 8 January 2014, retrieved 2024-02-28
  8. ^ "Surviving Tuskegee Pilot describes service, time as POW". U.S. Air Forces Central. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2024-02-28.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ Task & Purpose. Brookline Media. "They had to fight to get into the fight: One of the last Tuskegee Airmen recalls their battle for equality." BRIAN ALBRECHT, THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER. JULY 07, 2019
  10. ^ a b c "Bruce Adrion Iles : Corporal from Colorado, Vietnam War Casualty". www.honorstates.org. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  11. ^ "ED HUSAR: Tuskegee Airman movie kindles memories of role played by Quincy native". Herald-Whig. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  12. ^ Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute "Col. George J Iles Elementary School. Quincy, IL – 2018." https://www.pci.org/PCI/Project_Resources/Project_Profile/Project_Profile_Details.aspx?ID=231052
  13. ^ WGEM. "Arts Quincy installs final QPS sculpture." Jayda Hill. September 18, 2020. https://wgem.com/2020/09/18/arts-quincy-installs-final-qps-sculpture/ Archived 2021-08-01 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.

Notes

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  1. ^ The Tuskegee Airmen became known for flying the P-51 aircraft with red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.[5]
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