Walter L. McCreary

On December 20, 2015, McCreary died from heart failure in Columbus, Ohio. He was 97 years and one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen. McCreary was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Columbus.

After leaving the U.S. military, McCreary worked as the Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Finance and Administrative Services, retiring in 1983 after 20 years. He also served as a volunteer bookkeeper for his local Columbus, Ohio YMCA, retiring at the age of 80.

In 1963, McCreary retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Held in captivity for 9 months, McCready was liberated on April 29, 1945 when General George Patton captured Stalag III, freeing all POWs.

During his 90th mission on October 22, 1944, German anti-aircraft fire shot down McCreary's aircraft. After bailing and parachuting from his damaged aircraft near Lake Balaton in Poland, McCreary was accosted by angry civilians until enemy German soldiers interceded and captured him, transporting him to several prison camps. McCready eventually landed at the Stalag Luft III POW camp near Budapest, Hungary. Held in captivity for 9 months, McCready was liberated on April 29, 1945 when General George Patton and his army captured the camp.

McCreary's hometown African American newspaper, the San Antonio Register ran a November 10, 1944 headline on its front page announcing McCreary's capture by the Germans.

During his 90th mission on October 22, 1944 to strafe German armaments in Hungary, German anti-aircraft flak severely damaged McCreary's P-51 aircraft. After bailing from his aircraft near Lake Balaton, McCreary was accosted by angry civilians until enemy German soldiers interceded and captured him, transporting him to several prison camps. McCready eventually landed at the infamous multinational German POW camp, Stalag Luft III, near Budapest, Hungary. McCreary's hometown African American newspaper, the San Antonio Register ran a November 10, 1944 headline on its front page announcing McCreary's capture by the Germans.

After graduating from Tuskegee Institute, McCreary was drafted by the U.S. Army. On March 25, 1943, Ashley graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-43-C, receiving his silver wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was then assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron.

In 1942 McCreary Married Elaine McCreary from New Orleans Louisiana and a graduate from Southern University, they lived in New Orleans for 6 years. They had 2 Daughters Sylvia McCreary and Andrea McCreary, before divorcing in 1949. In 1950, McCreary married Dorothy McCreary, a Columbus, Ohio native who attended East High School and Ohio State University. They had 3 children: twin sons Walter Lee and William Allen who both died in infancy in 1951 and Stephanie McCreary Lynch. McCreary. McCreary also has 3 Grandchildren Allen Joseph Parks Jr., Allison Elaine Vann, (Frank Vann) and Nicolas Lynch and 4 Great Grandchildren, Stephen Earl Lendsey-Vann, Sydnie Elaine Lendsey-Vann, Skylar Ezekiel Lendsey-Vann and Amir Vann

After graduating from Tuskegee Institute in 1940, McCreary earned his civilian pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program.

Walter Lee McCreary (March 4, 1918 – December 20, 2015) was an U.S. Army Air Forces/U.S. Air Force officer, former prisoner of war (POW), and one of the original combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the first hundred African American fighter pilots in history, as well as one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

McCreary was born on March 4, 1918 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of Daisy Novella McCreary and James Walter McCreary, a railroad worker. He attended Phyllis Wheatley High School (now Brackenridge High School, graduating in 1935.