Shelby Westbrook

Shelby F. Westbrook (January 15, 1922 – August 17, 2016) was a Tuskegee Airman who served in World War II.

Early life Shelby Westbrook was born in the small town of Marked Tree, Arkansas, on January 15, 1922. When he was twelve years old, his parents died. Shortly after, Westbrook moved to Toledo, Ohio, to live with his older brother. He attended Libbey High School, an integrated high school,

United States Army Air Forces Training In March 1943, Westbrook enrolled in aviation cadet training at Tuskegee Army Air Field. He knew he did not want to be in the infantry, despite the fact he had never been in an airplane before. On February 8, 1944, he completed his pilot training (class 44-b) and was sent to Selfridge Air Field near Detroit, Michigan. During his time here, Second Lieutenant Westbrook trained in single-engine fighter planes.

Later years Westbrook returned to the United States in 1945. He had planned to attend engineering school, but was turned down by the director of the school as it would not accept black students. After this setback, Westbrook moved to Chicago and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics from the American Television Institute of Technology.

Personal life Shelby Westbrook married Lulu Bell Leonard in 1952. They resided on the South Side of Chicago in the same house until her death in 2006.

Westbrook died on August 17, 2016. His papers are held by the Chicago Public Library.