Wendell O. Pruitt

Infobox Military Person
name= Wendell O. Pruitt
born= June 20, 1920
died= 1945
placeofbirth= St. Louis, Missouri
placeofdeath= Tuskegee, Alabama


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears= 1942 - 1945
rank= Captain
commands=
unit=332d Fighter Group
battles=
awards= Distinguished Flying Cross
laterwork=
portrayedby=

Wendell Oliver Pruitt (June 20, 1920 - 1945) was a pioneering African-American military pilot and Tuskegee Airman [http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/story.asp?S=1129330 Tuskegee Airmen Listing] ] originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He was killed during a training exercise in 1945. [http://stlcin.missouri.org/history/peopledetail.cfm?Master_ID=1132 Mound City on the Mississippi, a St. Louis History] . Accessed July 28, 2008.] After his death, his name, along with William L. Igoe's was given to the notorious Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex in St. Louis.

Biography

Pruitt grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, as the youngest of ten children [http://www.angelfire.com/mo/AMVETSPOST41/index.html AMVETS post 41] Accessed July 28, 2008.] and attended Sumner High School. [http://www.youngsaintlouis.com/archive/June2007/kids/sonder.shtml Short Biography] on youngsaintlouis.com. Accessed July 28, 2008.] He then furthered his education at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri. [http://www.angelfire.com/mo/AMVETSPOST41/index.html AMVETS post 41] Accessed July 28, 2008.]

Military career

Pruitt, already a licensed pilot, enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet Flying Program in Tuskegee, Alabama, eventually graduating and being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on December 11, 1942. [http://www.angelfire.com/mo/AMVETSPOST41/index.html AMVETS post 41] Accessed July 28, 2008.]

He saw combat in Italy flying seventy missions and was credited with 3 enemy kills. [http://www.tuskegeeairmenmuseum.org/statistics.html Tuskegee Airman Statistics] . Accessed July 28, 2008.]

Death and posthumous honors

Pruitt was killed, along with a student pilot, during a training exercise in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Things named for Wendell O. Pruitt

* The Pruitt-Igoe Housing Project (along with William L. Igoe)
* A Martian rock studied by the Mars Spirit Rover [http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=27597 NASA Mars Exploration Rover Update] . "Spirit is currently wrapping up a campaign of scientific studies of the rock target known as Wendell Pruitt"..." Accessed July 28, 2008.]
* A St. Louis Elementary School and a Military School [http://stlcin.missouri.org/history/peopledetail.cfm?Master_ID=1132 Mound City on the Mississippi, a St. Louis History] . Accessed July 28, 2008.]
* "Wendell O. Pruitt Day" in the City of St. Louis, Missouri (December 24, 1944) [http://www.ketc.org/yourstories/livingstlouis_WendellPruitt.asp Living St. Louis: Wendell Pruitt] Accessed July 28, 2008]

U.S. decorations and badges

ee also

* Pruitt-Igoe
* Tuskegee Airmen

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22511 Wendell O. Pruitt's Grave] , on findagrave.com
* KETC "Living St. Louis" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abT8jDrbQpU Wendell Pruitt Episode] (Running time: 6 minutes, 03 seconds)

References