James Clayton Flowers

First Lieutenant

James Clayton Flowers
Born (1915-12-25) December 25, 1915
Surry County, Virginia, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States United States of America
Branch
United States Army Air Force
Service years
1940–1945
Rank
First Lieutenant
Unit
AwardsCongressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen
Spouse
Evelyn Lorraine Flowers
​
​
(m. 1951; died 2008)​
Other workTeacher in New York City

James Clayton Flowers (born December 25, 1915) is an American retired military pilot and supercentenarian who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

Life and military service

James Clayton Flowers was born on December 25, 1915[1] in Surry County, Virginia.[2][3]

The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."[N 1]

He was a pilot with the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group for five years.[5]

Flowers married his wife Evelyn in 1951 and the couple had two children.[6]. He worked as a schoolteacher in Manhattan and after retirement, he and his wife relocated to New Mexico.[1] New Mexico held a ceremony to honour the Tuskegee Airmen in March 2014. Flowers was present for the dedication at the New Mexico Veterans' Memorial.[7] He turned 100 on December 25, 2015,[8] and 110 on December 25, 2025.[9] He is currently the second-oldest known living man in the United States, behind 110-year-old Major Jewel McDonald of Mississippi.[10]

Flowers was a member of the Community Church of New York before moving to New Mexico. He has been a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces, New Mexico for over forty years.[11]

Awards

See also

Further reading

  • The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949[13]
  • "Born to Fly the Skies." Weirton Daily Times (Weirton, W.Va.) 23 February 2013. Web. 17 January 2014.
  • "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Listing." Tuskegee University, 2014, Web. 17 January 2014.

References

  1. 1 2 "Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 61". congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ Cook, Mike (December 18, 2025). "Celebration of 110 Christmases". Las Cruces Bulletin. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
  4. ↑ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Spencer (September 1, 2019). "Veterans and friends honor Tuskegee Airman James Clayton Flowers in Las Cruces". Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. ↑ Montero, Savannah (October 18, 2017). "Memorial concert at NMSU to honour local hero, Tuskegee Airman Williams". New Mexico State university. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Tuskegee Airmen Honoured at Event". Albuquerque Journal. March 28, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Tuskegee Airman James Clayton Flowers turned 105 on Christmas Day". Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ Ibave, David (December 26, 2025). "Las Cruces marks WWII vet and Tuskegee Airman's 110th birthday with parade". KFOX. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  10. ↑ "World Supercentenarian Rankings List". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Oldest Known Living U.S. Military Veteran also the Oldest Known Living Tuskegee Airman | UU World Magazine". www.uuworld.org. April 1, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  12. ↑ Rangel, Charles B. (April 11, 2006). "Tuskegee Airmen Gold Medal Signed Into Law". Press Release. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  13. ↑ Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1588382443. Retrieved February 6, 2020.

Notes

  1. ↑ The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.[4]
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