James T. Wiley | |
|---|---|
 James T. Wiley | |
| Birth name | James Thomas Wiley |
| Born | August 2, 1918 Evansville, Indiana, US |
| Died | May 3, 2000 (aged 81) Seattle, Washington, US |
| Buried | Non-Cemetery Burial |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Army Air Force Started out in the Army Air Corp. Switched over to the Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1965 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Awards | |
| Alma mater | University of Pittsburgh |
| Spouse(s) | Ruby Ethylynn Wiley |
| Relations | Children Mary and Jim |
| Other work | USAF plant representative |
James Thomas Wiley (August 7, 1918 – May 3, 2000) was a U.S. Army Air Forces/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot of the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Pursuit Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails".[1][2]
One of the United States' military first African American combat fighter pilots, Wiley was the first African American military combat pilot ever to land on foreign soil during combat readiness in North Africa.[3][2]
- ^ Charlene Smith-Riedel (15 June 2020). "His Storied Life: James Wiley, Tuskegee Airman and American War Hero". Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ Tuskegee Airmen Chronology. Daniel L. Haulman. Organizational History Branch. Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell AFB, AL. 14 November 2011. "5 May 1943: Lieutenants James T. Wiley and Graham Smith were the first two P-40 pilots of the 99th Fighter Squadron to land in North Africa, at Oued N’ja in French Morocco. (99th Fighter Squadron history, Mar 1941-Oct 1943)."