Wilfred DeFour

SSG Wilfred DeFour (April 12, 1918 – December 8, 2018) was a Panamanian-American soldier and centenarian. Born in Colón, Panama in 1918, DeFour emigrated with his family to the United States when Wilfred was still a child. The family settled in the Harlem section of New York City.

Staff Sergeant

Wilfred DeFour
Wilfred DeFour
Birth nameWilfred DeFour
Born(1918-04-12)April 12, 1918
Colón, Panama
DiedDecember 8, 2018(2018-12-08) (aged 100)
Harlem, New York
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Force
Years of service1942–1945
RankStaff Sergeant
Unit366th Air Service Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group
Awards

During World War II DeFour served in the United States Army as an aircraft technician with the distinguished Tuskegee Airmen, the first all African-American air corps. DeFour died in December 2018 at the age of 100, he was last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen.[1]

Military service

World War II
The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."[N 1]

DeFour joined the Air Corps in 1942, and after completing basic training he was assigned to the 366th Air Service Squadron, and stationed in Italy in 1943.[3] In November 2018, DeFour appeared in a ceremony renaming a Harlem post office in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen.[4]

Education

Awards

Personal life

DeFour was born in Colón, Panama and emigrated to New York. After the war, he completed his associate and bachelor's degrees in real estate and business administration. He worked for the United States Postal Service, and retired after 33 years.[1] Defour was married to Ruth Christian (died in 2005). Together they had two children Wilfred, Jr. and Darlene. He was survived by a daughter.[7][8]

Death

DeFour had been receiving at home care, and a care provider found him in the bathroom of his Fifth Avenue apartment in Harlem, New York at 9 a.m. Authorities said he died of natural causes.[5]

See also

References
  1. Ellis, Ralph; Ly, Laura (December 8, 2018). "Wilfred DeFour, 100-year-old Tuskegee Airman, dies". CNN. Cable News Network. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  3. Dedaj, Paulina (December 8, 2018). "Wilfred DeFour, Tuskegee Airman during World War II, dies at 100". FOX News Network, LLC. Fox News. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  4. Glassberg, Lauren (November 19, 2018). "Harlem post office renamed in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen". ABC, Inc. Eyewitness News. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  5. Woods, Amanda; Fugallo, Nick (December 8, 2018). "Tuskegee Airmen pilot, WWII hero dies in Harlem at 100". NYP HOLDINGS, INC. New York Post. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  6. "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. April 11, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
  7. Boyd, Herb (December 3, 2019). "Wilfred DeFour, a valiant and vital Tuskegee Airman". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  8. Ndoume, Arletha (February 27, 2019). "VeteranOfTheDay Army Air Forces Veteran Wilfred DeFour". va.gov. US Department of Veteran Affairs. Retrieved December 4, 2019.

Notes
  1. The 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.[2]
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