George L. Knox II
George L. Knox II | |
|---|---|
George L. Knox II | |
| Birth name | George Levi Knox II |
| Nickname(s) | Skipper |
| Born | December 23, 1916 Indianapolis, Indiana, US |
| Died | November 4, 1964 (aged 47) Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama, US |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1964 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | 332nd Fighter Group |
| Awards |
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| Alma mater | Fisk University |
| Spouse(s) | Yvonne Marguerite Wright Knox |
| Relations |
Children: *Adelaide Emma Sons: *George Levi III. *John Elwood *Craig Streeter |
George Levi Knox II ("Skipper" Knox) (December 23, 1916 – November 4, 1964) was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot and Adjutant with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. One of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, he was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen's third-ever aviation cadet class, and one of the first twelve African Americans to become combat fighter pilots. He was the second Indiana native to graduate from the Tuskegee Advanced Flying School (TAFS).
He was one of the ten presiding officers in the courts-martial of several Tuskegee Airmen after the Freeman Field mutiny in 1945. He was named president after Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was dismissed.