William R. Thompson (Finding Aid)

William R. Thompson

1916 - 2006

Favorite Color: Red and Black

Favorite Food: Fish

Favorite Time of Year: Autumn

Favorite Vacation Spot: Las Vegas

Interview Length: 139 minutes

Interview Date(s): May 9, 2000

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Colonel William Thompson recalls his father, a railroad dining car worker or chef from Durham, North Carolina, who moved to Pittsburgh and established a successful catering business. Thompson explains that his mother died when he was an infant and his childhood was spent moving around to different relatives. He also talks about his siblings and some other relatives. He tells of the great admiration he had in his youth for the early aviators and his disappointment in later learning about his heroes' racial prejudice. William Thompson talks about his youth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he grew up near the University of Pittsburgh and his family took in students and professors as lodgers. Thompson recalls attending integrated schools and developing an early interest in aviation. He tells how he attempted to volunteer for the Army Air Corps after high school but was turned away because they were not accepting blacks. Instead, he went to college; describes his experiences at Hampton University in Virginia, from which he graduated in 1940, and at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania which he attended for a year. William R. Thompson talks about his experiences as a weapons officer with the U.S. Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War Two. He talks about his training at Chanute Base, seeing Eleanor Roosevelt fly with a black pilot at Tuskegee, the squadron being shipped to Casablanca and their service in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Lt. Colonel William Thompson talks about the Tuskegee Airmen and their legacy, and shares memories of commanders Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and George S. 'Spanky' Roberts and flyers including Hannibal Cox and Lee Archer. Thompson goes on to relate his experiences after the war, when he moved to Chicago and worked on promotion for John H. Johnson's new magazine, 'Ebony'. William Thompson talks about his role as unofficial photographer and archivist of the Tuskegee Airmen, and his donation of his collection of photographs to the Tuskegee Airmen exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. He tells about the recognition he receives today for having been a Tuskegee Airman, and his volunteer work with youth, both as part of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. organization and as a mentor to individual young men. He calls for more African American political participation, more involvement with mentoring, and a national service program for youth. He also speaks about his sons and other family members.

40 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)