Honoring the Memory of Captain Andrew Maples, Jr., Orange County ’ s Tuskegee Airman
Adapted from a 2017 Visit Orange County Virginia Blog Entry, “ Captain Andrew Maples, Jr.: Honoring the Service of Orange County ’ s Tuskegee Airman ”
In many ways, Orange, Virginia represents the idea of small - town America. It ’ s a place where one can get away from the noise of larger cities, relax, and enjoy the beautiful landscape. However, this has not always been the case. During World War II, there were seven (7) factories in and around the Town of Orange running at capacity, producing everything from socks for millions of marching feet, to parachutes that saved airmen and delivered soldiers to battle, and even fuses for artillery shells. Young men and women donned uniforms and went off to serve their country. Area farms produced vitally needed food and fiber. Unending rail traffic rumbled through the county and its towns, at times up to one train every ten minutes. This busy town was home to a young man named Andrew Maples Jr., whose family ’ s ties to the area went back generations, and whose family home stood near the intersection of today ’ s West Church Street and South Madison Road.
In a conversation with Maples ’ sister, Doris Walker, she described him as a well - mannered, beloved young man who stood above the crowd due to his exceptional height and poise. Interested in flying since childhood, he enrolled in Hampton Institute ’ s Civilian Pilot Training Program. Upon completion of this program, Maples returned to Orange County in triumphant fashion, flying himself to the Gordonsville Airport to inform his parents he ’ d received his pilot ’ s license. Doubtless, Maples learned much while studying at Hampton, but one thing in particular would change the course of his life. He became aware of the Tuskegee Program. The military had selected Tuskegee Institute to train pilots because of its commitment to aeronautical training. Tuskegee had the facilities, engineering, technical instructors, and climate for year - round flying. With his piloting experience as a foundation, Andrew Maples graduated from the Advanced Flying School at the Tuskegee Army Air Field on January 14, 1943, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant. Mrs. Walker recalled that their mother and father traveled the 700 miles from Orange, Virginia, to Tuskegee, Alabama, to personally pin his wings.
Maples was deployed with the 301 st Fighter Squadron of the 332 nd Fighter Group, part of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African - American military aviators in the United States armed forces. Due to the prevailing Jim Crow laws of the time, units were racially segregated and the Tuskegee Airmen were forced to overcome prejudice and prove their abilities. Though they flew in other operations and with other aircraft, the Tuskegee Airmen are best known for flying P - 51 Mustangs emblazoned with red tails while escorting allied bombers in the European theater. On June 26, 1944, 1 st Lt. Maples took off from Ramitelli Air Field
Photography Credit: Pete Payette
Page 3 | February, 2022
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