William G. Draper
Encyclopedia
William G. Draper was a career military officer and Air Force Aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower
. He was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
and graduated from Central High School in Washington, D.C.
in 1939. He obtained his CAA private and commercial licenses in 1940, and in 1941 received his instructor’s rating at the Wilmington, Delaware airport. In November 1942 he joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, USAF, and assigned to Air Transport Command
ferrying B-17 bombers to England and North Africa. He also piloted with the AAF Transport Group, “Fireball Line,” which flew supplies for the China-Burma-India Theater from Miami to Assam, India. From 1950-1952 he was the personal pilot for General Dwight D. Eisenhower
, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, and later served as President Eisenhower’s personal pilot and Air Force Aide.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
. He was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,374 people, 21,655 households, and 13,317 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,932.9 people per square mile . There were 22,727 housing units at an average density of 889.7 per square mile...
and graduated from Central High School in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1939. He obtained his CAA private and commercial licenses in 1940, and in 1941 received his instructor’s rating at the Wilmington, Delaware airport. In November 1942 he joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, USAF, and assigned to Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
ferrying B-17 bombers to England and North Africa. He also piloted with the AAF Transport Group, “Fireball Line,” which flew supplies for the China-Burma-India Theater from Miami to Assam, India. From 1950-1952 he was the personal pilot for General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, and later served as President Eisenhower’s personal pilot and Air Force Aide.
External links
- http://eisenhower.archives.gov/Research/Finding_Aids/D.html Papers and Records of Col. William G. Draper, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library