Melton, William Robert, 1920-1999

Biography

William R. Melton was born on October 24, 1920. During World War II he enlisted as a pilot in what was then the Army Air Corps and was assigned to the all-black unit. On July 28, 1943 Melton graduated at Tuskegee Army Air Field as a Second Lieutenant of class SE-43-G. He was a member of the original 332nd Fighter Group, serving with the 302nd Fighter Squadron. As a fighter pilot, Melton flew more than one hundred missions in North Africa and Europe. He also became part of the initial group to volunteer for bomber training with the 477th Bombardment Group. Melton later served as a flight instructor at Tuskegee and remained active with the Tuskegee Airmen throughout his life, serving as a public relations officer and historian. William R. Melton died on September 2, 1999 at the age of 78.