Greater Philadelphia Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Our Mission Who We Are Membership Meetings Speakers Bureau Individual Histories References Links Home WILLIAM CHARLES WALKER JR. 79, of Atlantic City, former Captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps, died on June 21, 2002, at Seashore Gardens Living Center. Bill was born in Newport News, VA, on December 14, 1922. His parents, William C. Walker Sr. and Ludie, relocated to Atlantic City when he was four years old. He completed his secondary education in Atlantic City, graduating from Atlantic City High School in 1940. He attended Xavier University in New Orleans, LA, for his freshman year. He had heard rumors about an all-black fighter squadron of the Army Air Corps (later the U.S. Air Force) being formed in Tuskegee, Alabama, and his mission became volunteering for training to join this unit. As a young child, his hobby had always been model air plane building and he had an intense interest in learning to fly. After months of searching on the East coast, in the Philadelphia and New York areas, he finally located information on this unit, volunteered and was assigned for training at Moton Field on the campus of Tuskegee Institute. Although this was a segregated (separate but equal) training facility, one of the staunchest supporters, Eleanor Roosevelt, visited the facility, flew with one of the black instructors and convinced Congress to back this unit, eventually to become the Tuskegee Airmen. Bill received his silver wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant in May 1944, and he subsequently became a member of the 100th Pursuit. Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, and served with distinction in the European Theater. He flew 34 missions over enemy territory in a P51-Mustang before returning stateside at the end of the European Campaign. After his separation from the service, Bill returned to the U.S. Post Office as a letter carrier, completing 20 years of service. Later, he became a sales agent for Atlantic Chrysler/Plymouth, retiring in 1987. Bill continued his strong interest in aviation and was a life member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. He is survived by: his loving wife of 58 years, Laurice. In addition, other survivors include: his daughter, Lynn Casper and her husband Robert of Neptune; his son, Michael and his wife Audrey of Monmouth Junction. He was predeceased by a son, Craig, of Atlantic City. He is also survived by four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Dr. Harold C. Walker of Norwalk, CT, and his wife Elaine; and his sister, Ruth Du Berry and her husband John of Jamaica, NY; and a host of nephews and nieces. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 at 11:00 AM at Greenidge Funeral Home, 301 Absecon Blvd., Atlantic City, preceded by a viewing from 10:00 - 11:00. Burial with military honors at Atlantic City Cemetery, Pleasantville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Fund, c/o The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Greater Philadelphia Chapter, PO Box 18966, Philadelphia, PA 19119 or to Seashore Gardens Living Center Building Fund, 3850 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401.