Charles DeBow

Charles DeBow (February 13, 1918 – April 4, 1986) was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force and combat fighter pilot and commanding officer of the 332nd Fighter Group's 301st Fighter Squadron, best known as the prodigious, all-African American Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

In July 1941, DeBow entered aviation cadet training with the Tuskegee Airmen's first class of aviation cadets, Class 42-C-SE.

DeBow was the first Indiana native and the first of fourteen individuals with an Indianapolis, Indiana, address of record to graduate from the Tuskegee Advance Flying School (TAFS).

Early life, family

DeBow was born on February 13, 1918, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Charles Henry DeBow (September 17, 1891 - March 1981) of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Anna Sue Horne DeBow (December 25, 1896 - January 1980) of Tennessee. DeBow's parents moved from Tennessee to Indianapolis before DeBow was born.

TAFS Roster of Graduates listed DeBow's hometown address as 2043 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, Indiana. |group=N On July 19, 1941, DeBow was admitted into the U.S. Army Air Corps Tuskegee Aviation Cadet training program's inaugural class at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Class 42-C-SE.

During World War II, DeBow served as squadron commander of the 332rd fighter group's 301st Fighter Squadron.

Post-military career, death

After leaving the military, DeBow returned to the State of Indiana where earned a Master's degree from alma mater Indiana University and another Master’s degree from Butler University. DeBow became an English teacher at Indianapolis, Indiana's Thomas Carr Howe High School where he remained for 10 years. He later became an associate English lecturer at IUPUI until his death on April 4, 1986.