Wilmore Leonard

Leonard first volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps in the fall of 1941, and was accepted in January.⁷ On September 6, 1942, Leonard graduated from the Tuskegee Army Airfield School's Single Engine Section, in Class SE-42-H, earning his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.⁸

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Following his graduation from the Tuskegee Flight School, as a member of Tuskegee’s sixth graduating cadet class, Wilmore Leonard went on to serve in Europe during World War 2.¹⁰ In doing so, Leonard became one of the nation's 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen, while also being among one of the first fifty African American combat pilots.¹¹

The term “Tuskegee Airmen” was not an official title given to these airmen by the U.S.Army. Its widespread usage and association with these well-known Black veterans can be credited to Charles Francis, who wrote a book called The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation.¹² The Tuskegee Airmen are renowned for their heroism and aviation expertise as pilots. The term also extends to the many Black veterans who served as navigators, cooks, and mechanics, answering the call during the country’s time of need.¹³

During his time as a Tuskegee Airman, Leonard was a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron and challenged stereotypes that discouraged black individuals from serving as aviators within the United States military.¹⁴ Leonard’s squadron was the first squadron to join the 332nd Fighter Group.¹⁵ While acting as trailblazers within the 332nd Fighter Group, Leonard and his squadron mates were assigned to the 96th Air Service, which would go on to support the many squadrons within the 332nd.¹⁶

Leonard was stationed at various posts during his service, including Tuskegee, AL; Oscoda, MI; Camp Kilmer, NJ; and Selfridge Field, MI.¹⁷ When Leonard was assigned to Selfridge Field, he and his fellow airmen faced racial discrimination. Members of his unit were not given the same accommodations and privileges as the white officers within the town when it came to facility access and the use of social spaces.¹⁸

While a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron, Wilmore Leonard was one of the first pilots to be trained at the airfield Oscoda, MI.¹⁹ However, like in Selfridge, the presence of the squadron was met with hostility.  After arriving in Oscoda, in April of 1943, the Board of Supervisors of Iosco County encouraged the transferring of members of the 332nd Fighter Group, with said reasoning: “Negroes at the base would create social and racial problems in ... a community where no persons of the Negro race have ever lived, and where there are no facilities for the entertainment of such colored persons.”²⁰ Though the board’s request was quickly denied, it acted as another reminder of the deeply rooted sentiments of prejudice still rooted within many white communities across the United States.

Wilmore Leonard continued to serve with the 100th Fighter Squadron and saw combat in Europe.²¹ Leonard went on to act as the head of the Department of Technical Inspection for the United States Army in 1945. By this time, he had received the rank of Captain, while also being married to his wife, the former Mrs. Elizabeth Arrington.²² He retired from the military by 1946.

At 31 years of age, in 1947 Leonard applied to the University of Maryland’s graduate school program. While he was initially accepted, his acceptance was revoked under the authority of Dr. H.C. Byrd, the President of the University at the time.²³ The University Director of Admissions reportedly took a trip down to Salisbury, in an effort to take the admission card away from Leonard himself.²⁴ The school denied that they had rejected Leonard based on his race, and instead blamed his rescinded letter of admission on poor grades compared to other applicants.²⁵

Despite the troubles faced at the University of Maryland, Leonard still went on to pursue a graduate degree from the Howard University School of Dentistry in 1948. After graduating in 1952, Leonard continued to work as a Professor at Howard’s School of Dentistry for 25 years, teaching courses in oral diagnosis, endodontics, oral therapeutics, and pharmacology.²⁶

In his time spent at Howard University, Leonard became a member of various dental associations and received the University’s College of Dental Alumni Award. Furthermore, he published many works on both periodontology and endodontics throughout his professional career. He also took up both the roles of Associate Director ofClinics and Secretary to Faculty during his time spent at Howard. Leonard retired from dentistry in May of1977.²⁷

Capt. Wilmore Leonard died at the age of 61, due to an ongoing battle with cancer, on April 2, 1978. He died at Howard University’s hospital. In death, Leonard left many family members, including his wife, Elizabeth, and their adult daughter, Charmaine L. Jackson.²⁸ Wilmore Leonard was a man of many accomplishments, and may he never be forgotten.