Bobby Charles Wilks (May 12, 1931 – July 13, 2009),[1][2] was an American Coast Guard aviator. He was the first African American Coast Guard aviator and the first African American to reach the rank of Coast Guard captain.[3] Captain Wilks, who also was the first African American to command a Coast Guard air station, was involved in a number of air-sea rescues around the world. He received the Air Medal for his actions on the night of December 9, 1971, while piloting his helicopter over the Pacific Ocean.[2]
- ^ Greene, Robert Ewell (1974). Black defenders of America. Johnson Pub. Co. pp. 297. ISBN 0-87485-053-3.
- ^ a b Joe Holley (July 24, 2009). "Coast Guard's First Black Aviator". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ "Capt. Bobby Wilks has died, was Coast Guard aviator". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2009-07-24.[permanent dead link]