George J. Iles

George Jewell Iles (November 6, 1918 – December 9, 2004) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, former World War II Prisoner of War in Nazi Germany, and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the all-African American Tuskegee Airmen.

On February 25, 1945, Iles was shot down, captured and eventually imprisoned in Stalag VII-A, the largest POW camp in Nazi Germany.

Iles served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years, including service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. His father was a barber and later was an employee at Firestone's Electric Wheel Works. |group=N

Iles joined the newly formed Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), earning his civilian pilot's license in 1939. He became Quincy's first African American licensed pilot.

On May 23, 1944, Iles graduated from the Tuskegee cadet pilot training school in its Class 44-E-SE, receiving his wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. After completing 90-day combat and fighter training at Walterboro Army Air Field in Walterboro, South Carolina, the U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Iles to the all-African American 99th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the "Tuskegee Airmen" or "Red Tails.

On April 29, 1945, General George Patton and his Third Army liberated Iles, Brown, and 76,000+ other POWs when they captured Stalag VII-A. On May 15, 1967, Bruce was killed in action by small arms fire near Phuoc Thong, Quang Nam province, South Vietnam.

Legacy Iles created the Iles Academy of Golf for Kids in Maryville, California, a leadership and sports non-profit. In 2020 as part of the Moorman Foundation and Arts Quincy's "Celebration of Education" series, Cedar Falls, Iowa Sculptor Tim Jorgensen installed his "Red Tails" sculptor at Iles' namesake, the George J. Iles Elementary School in Quincy, Illinois.

Awards and honors Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Tuskegee Airmen in 2006 Legion of Merit Bronze Star with cluster Air Medal with three clusters Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster Air Force Association's Certificate of Honor for Outstanding Service to the Cause of Human Rights by Virtue of Action Taken in Behalf of American MIAs and POWS in Southeast Asia.