Henry A. Wise Jr. (August 3, 1920 – May 2, 2003) (POW) was an American physician and World War II Tuskegee Airman fighter pilot with the 99th Pursuit Squadron, 332nd Division. He was shot down over Romania and was a prisoner of war. After the war, he became the medical director at Bowie State University.
Henry Wise Jr. | |
---|---|
Birth name | Henry Alphonso Wise Jr. |
Born | Cheriton, Virginia, United States | May 26, 1920
Died | May 2, 2003 Cheverly, Maryland, United States | (aged 82)
Allegiance | United States |
Service | United States Army Air Forces |
Years of service | 1942–1946 |
Rank | Second Lieutenant |
Unit | 99th Pursuit Squadron, 332nd Division, Tuskegee Airmen |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Awards |
|
Early life
editWise was born in Cheriton, Virginia, and he graduated from the all black private school, Virginia Union University.[1]
Career
editFrom 1942 to 1946 served as a pilot in the Tuskegee Airmen.[1] Wise's plane was shot down over Romania near the Ploesti oilfields. He spent three months as a prisoner of war.[3]
In 1955 Wise left his family practice to work as a physician at Prince George's Hospital Center. At that time Wise was the only African American physician. He went on to become the medical director at Bowie State University[3]
Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School was approved by the Board of Education for Prince George's County Public Schools in 2005.[4]
Death
editWise suffered a heart attack and died at Prince George's Hospital Center on May 2, 2003.[citation needed]
Awards
edit- Air Medal
- Certificate of Valor for Courage in Combat
- Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006[5]
- Pioneer Award for Distinguished Service and Historic Achievement.
- Purple Heart
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Jump up to: a b "Dr. Henry Wise, 82; Tuskegee Airman, Medical Director". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Dr. Henry Wise, 82, Tuskegee Airman, Dies". The Washington Post. 2003. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School Official Site". DMS Properties, LLC. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
Notes
editExternal links
edit- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
- Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University
- Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
- Tuskegee Airmen National Museum