Charles W. Dryden

Charles Walter Dryden (September 16, 1920 – June 24, 2008) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and one of the original combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron,a component of the Tuskegee Airmen. Among the United States' first eight African American combat fighter pilots, Dryden is notable as a member of the Tuskegee Advance Flying School (TAFS)'s Class Number SE-42-C, the program's 2nd-ever aviation cadet program.

Charles W. Dryden
Charles Dryden (seated) aboard USS San Antonio
(May 2006)
Nickname(s)"A-TRAIN"
Born(1920-09-16)September 16, 1920
New York City, New York
DiedJune 24, 2008(2008-06-24) (aged 87)
Atlanta, Georgia
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
RankLieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsGeorgia Aviation Hall of Fame inductee
Spouse(s)Marymal Morgan Dryden
ChildrenCharles a.k.a. Thumper Dryden, Keith Dryden, Eric Dryden, George Bingham, Kenneth Bingham, Tony Bingham, Cornelia-Rose White

Dryden was one of the first African American U.S. military pilots to engage in aerial combat against an enemy combatant, sharing this honor with 99th Fighter Squadron pilots Sidney P. Brooks, Willie Ashley, Lee Rayford, Leon C. Roberts and Spann Watson.

He is the author of the autobiography, A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman.

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