George R. Bolling I | |
|---|---|
| Born | George Richard Bolling August 4, 1920 |
| Died | March 22, 2007(2007-03-22) (aged 86) |
| Resting place | Oak Hill Memorial Park inSan Jose, California |
| Alma mater | Hampton Institute |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1942–1961 |
George Richard Bolling I (August 4, 1920 – March 22, 2007) was aU.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the332nd Fighter Group's99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the famedTuskegee Airmen.[1] He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[2]
Bolling was born on August 4, 1920, at theHampton Institute inHampton, Virginia.[3] He was the son of Edward A. Bolling Sr. (1884–1958) and Georgia A. Bridgeforth Bolling (1885–1946) ofLunenburg County, Virginia, who married in 1916.[4]
Bolling had three siblings: brother Roscoe Howard Bolling (1924–d. in childbirth), sister Gladys Bolling Fletcher (1922–2007), aHampton Institute andAtlanta University-trained school librarian, and brother Edward Alfonzo Bolling Jr. (1918–1997), an agriculture engineering instructor and 17-year manager ofHampton Institute's campus farm and U.S. international agricultural advisor to the federal government.[5][4][6][7]
Bolling attended all-black Whittier Elementary andPhenix High School inHampton, Virginia.[3] After graduating from high school, Bolling majored in engineering atHampton Institute (nowHampton University), graduating in 1940.[8][9]
Bolling married Dolores Bolling (1924–2014) ofApalachicola, Florida. Raised inTallahassee, Florida, Dolores completed a bachelor's degree atFlorida A & M University where she pledgedAlpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Dolores relocated toColumbus, Ohio, to live with Bolling who was stationed atColumbus Air Force Base. While in Columbus, Dolores earned a master's degree in Biology atOhio State University. As the U.S. Air Force reassigned Bolling, the Bollings relocated throughout the U.S and Japan. After the family relocated toSan Jose, California, Dolores taught biology at Sheppard Middle School for eight years.
Bolling and Dolores had three sons: George R. "Ricky" Bolling II (Died 2009), John Raymond Bolling, and Frank Daniel Bolling (1963 – July 12, 2004).[10][8] They also had one granddaughter, Francine M. Bolling.[10]
Bolling leftHampton Institute after being recruited into theU.S. Army Air Corps.[8] On July 3, 1942, Bolling graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School's Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-F, receiving his wings and commission as a2nd Lieutenant.[11] After graduation he was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron.[8]
During combat missions, he was shot down twice. On July 11, 1943, his aircraft was hit by an enemy ship's anti-aircraft artillery, he bailed from his plane, landing in theMediterranean, where he was rescued by boat after a day at sea.[8][12]
In 1961, he retired from theU.S. Air Force with the rank ofMajor.[8]
After leaving theU.S. Air Force, Bolling joined theU.S. Postal Service inSan Jose, California, working there for 20 years.[8]
Bolling died on March 22, 2007, inSan Jose, California.[10] He was interred at Oak Hill Memorial Park inSan Jose, California.[10]
