Walter L. McCreary

Walter Lee McCreary (March 4, 1918 – December 20, 2015) was a U.S. Army Air Forces/U.S. Air Force officer, former prisoner of war (POW), and one of the original combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the first hundred African American fighter pilots in history, as well as one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

During his 90th mission on October 22, 1944, German anti-aircraft fire shot down McCreary's aircraft. After bailing and parachuting from his damaged aircraft near Lake Balaton in Hungary, McCreary was accosted by angry civilians until enemy German soldiers interceded and captured him, transporting him to several prison camps. McCready eventually landed at the Stalag Luft III POW camp near Budapest, Hungary. Held in captivity for 9 months, McCready was liberated on April 29, 1945, when General George Patton and his army captured the camp.

McCreary's hometown African American newspaper, the San Antonio Register ran a November 10, 1944, headline on its front page announcing McCreary's capture by the Germans.

Early life and family McCreary was born on March 4, 1918, in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of Daisy Novella McCreary and James Walter McCreary, a railroad worker.

Death On December 20, 2015, McCreary died from heart failure in Columbus, Ohio. He was 97 years and one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen. McCreary was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Columbus.