Elwood_T._Driver Knowpia

Major

Elwood T. Driver
Major; Elwood T. Driver
Nickname(s)	Woody
Born	August 20, 1921; Trenton, New Jersey U.S.
Died	March 26, 1992 (aged 70); Reston, Virginia, USA
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Force; United States Air Force;
Years of service	1942-1962
Rank	Flight Commander
Unit	Tuskegee Army Air Field
Awards	Group Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Tuskegee Airmen;
Alma mater	New Jersey State College BA; New York University MS;
Spouse(s)	Shirley Martin
Children	1

Elwood "Woody" T. Driver (August 20, 1921 – March 26, 1992) was an American aviator who served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. He flew 123 missions and he is given credit for one confirmed kill. In 1978 President Jimmy Carter nominated Driver to be a member of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Early life edit

Elwood Driver was born in Trenton, New Jersey. He had three siblings. While attending Trenton State College, he earned his pilot's license.^[1] He graduated from college in 1942.^[2] Later he attended New York University and earned an MS in safety engineering.^[3]

Driver married Shirley Martin in 1960. He had one son, Timothy, from a previous marriage.^[2]

Career edit

P-51 "Redtail" aircraft showing red markings.^{[N 1]}

Class 42-I Left to right: Nathaniel M. Hill, Marshall S. Cabiness, Herman A. Lawson, William T. Mattison, John A. Gibson, Elwood T Driver, Price D. Rice, Andrew D. Turner

Driver signed up for the Army Air Corps in 1942. He became a Tuskegee Airman and was sent to the European Theatre where he recorded an aerial combat kill over Anzio, Italy. He retired from the Air force as a Major in 1962.^[2]

Driver worked with the National Transportation Safety Board beginning in 1967.^[2] In 1978, he was nominated to be a member of the Safety Board and served from 1978 to 1980.^[5]

Driver held a board of director position at Howard University.^[3]

Awards and honors edit

In 2006, a Congressional Gold Medal was awarded to Tuskegee Airmen, including Driver.^[6]

Death edit

On May 26, 1992, Driver died at his home in Reston, Virginia from liver cancer.^[2]

References edit

^ "Maj. Elwood "Woody" T. Driver, USAF". Air and Space. Smithsonian Institution Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lambert, Bruce (April 4, 1992). "Elwood Driver, 70, Wartime Pilot and Transportation Safety Expert". New York Times. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Elwood Driver, Safety Official, Tuskegee Airman, Dies at 70". The Washington Post. 1992. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Archived June 14, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
^ "National Transportation Safety Board Nomination of Elwood T. Driver To Be a Member". Presidency UCSB. The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
^ Kruzel, John J. "President, Congress Honor Tuskegee Airmen". Army. U.S. Army. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2019.

Notes edit

^ The Tuskegee Airmen became known for flying the P-51 "Redtail" aircraft that sported distinctive red markings that included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder. Their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.^[4]