Flight Officer John Lyle (1920 – 2019) was an American World War II pilot and a member of the famed group of World War II-era African-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Dickson flew 26 combat missions during WWII.[1] He had a lifelong love of sailing and over the course of his life he owned seven different boats. He was nicknamed Captain Jack for his love of sailing.[2]
John Lyle | |
|---|---|
 John Lyle 1944 | |
| Birth name | John Lyle |
| Born | November 18, 1920 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | January 5, 2019 (aged 98) Chicago, Illinois |
| Service | United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1944-1945 |
| Rank | Flight Officer |
| Unit | 100th Fighter Squadron 332d Fighter Group |
| Awards | |
| Spouse(s) | Eunice (4th wife) |
| Relations | 3 step children |
Military service
editLyle graduated from Englewood High School on Chicago's Southside and in 1943 joined the military. He did not want to be a foot soldier so he pursued flying. After graduating from the Tuskegee Institute as a Flight Officer he was assigned to the European theatre. He flew 26 combat missions over Italy, Austria and Germany.[2] Lyle, named his plane “Natalie” after his first wife. During the war he shot down a German Messerschmitt.[3]
I was shot at several times as part of a formation. I watched bombers being torn apart, but they were performing the mission they signed up to do,” Mr. Lyle told Jet. “And when I had to shoot the guy who was shooting at the planes I was protecting, I did not feel bad because that was my assignment.[4]
–John Lyle
Awards
edit
Education
editPersonal life
editLyle was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. He graduated from Englewood High School and in 1943 joined the military. He did not want to be a foot soldier so he pursued flying.[2] Lyle married Eunice and was a stepfather to her 3 children. After the war, he became a police officer with the Chicago Park District and also started a tree-trimming company. He had prostate cancer at the end of his life.[1] His wife Eunice said that his dying wish was to sit and watch the waves of Lake Michigan at Jackson Park Harbor Yacht Club.[2] Lyle was married four times and Eunice was his fourth wife.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Tuskegee Airman John 'Jack' Lyle dead at 98". airforcetimes.com. Associated Press. January 8, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Bowean, Lolly (January 7, 2019). "'Captain Jack' Lyle, South Side native and one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen dies at 98". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "John Lyle, 98, Tuskegee Airman". The Philadelphia Tribune. January 7, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ a b O'Donnell, Maureen (January 7, 2019). "John 'Jack' Lyle, one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, dies at 98". The Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
- ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Listing". tuskegee.edu. Tuskegee University. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
Notes
editExternal links
edit- Video of John Lyle
- 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
- Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)
- Executive Order 9981
- List of African American Medal of Honor recipients
- Military history of African Americans