George J. Iles

Iles was born on November 6, 1918, in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois to George D. Iles and Juanita Howell Iles. His father was a barber and later was an employee at Firestone's Electric Wheel Works. Iles attended Lincoln Elementary, a segregated school. Later he attended Quincy High School, graduating in 1935. After graduating from high school, Iles worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps for three years before enrolling in Quincy College. == World War II==

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. 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. 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. ==Later life and death==

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 in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (First Infantry Division) in Vietnam. On May 15, 1967, Bruce was killed in action by small arms fire near Phuoc Thong, Quang Nam province, South Vietnam. ==Legacy==

• Iles created the Iles Academy of Golf for Kids in Maryville, California, a leadership and sports non-profit. • 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. ==Awards and honors==

• Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Tuskegee Airmen in 2006 • Legion of Merit • Bronze Star with cluster • Air Medal with three clusters • Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster • 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. ==See also==