During his 90th mission on October 22, 1944, German anti-aircraft fire shot down McCreary's aircraft. After bailing and parachuting from his damaged aircraft near Lake Balaton in Poland, McCreary was accosted by angry civilians until enemy German soldiers interceded and captured him, transporting him to several prison camps. McCready eventually landed at the Stalag Luft III POW camp near Budapest, Hungary. Held in captivity for 9 months, McCready was liberated on April 29, 1945, when General George Patton and his army captured the camp.[2][3][4]
McCreary's hometown African American newspaper, the San Antonio Register ran a November 10, 1944, headline on its front page announcing McCreary's capture by the Germans.[5]
Early life and family
McCreary was born on March 4, 1918, in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of Daisy Novella McCreary and James Walter McCreary, a railroad worker.[4] He attended Phyllis Wheatley High School (now Brackenridge High School, graduating in 1935.[4]
After graduating from Tuskegee Institute in 1940, McCreary earned his civilian pilot’s license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program.[4]
In 1942 McCreary Married Elaine McCreary from New Orleans Louisiana and a graduate from Southern University, they lived in New Orleans for 6 years. They had 2 Daughters Sylvia McCreary and Andrea McCreary, before divorcing in 1949. In 1950, McCreary married Dorothy McCreary, a Columbus, Ohio, native who attended East High School and Ohio State University.[4] They had 3 children: twin sons Walter Lee and William Allen who both died in infancy in 1951 and Stephanie McCreary Lynch. McCreary.[4] McCreary also has 3 Grandchildren Allen Joseph Parks Jr., Allison Elaine Vann, (Frank Vann) and Nicolas Lynch and 4 Great Grandchildren, Stephen Earl Lendsey-Vann, Sydnie Elaine Lendsey-Vann, Skylar Ezekiel Lendsey-Vann and Amir Vann
Military service, Tuskegee Airmen, Stalag Luft III POW
After graduating from Tuskegee Institute, McCreary was drafted by the U.S. Army.[4] On March 25, 1943, Ashley graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-43-C, receiving his silver wings and commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.[1] He was then assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron.[4]
During his 90th mission on October 22, 1944, to strafe German armaments in Hungary, German anti-aircraft flak severely damaged McCreary's P-51 aircraft.[4] After bailing from his aircraft near Lake Balaton, McCreary was accosted by angry civilians until enemy German soldiers interceded and captured him, transporting him to several prison camps. McCready eventually landed at the infamous multinational German POW camp, Stalag Luft III, near Budapest, Hungary.[2][4] McCreary's hometown African American newspaper, the San Antonio Register ran a November 10, 1944, headline on its front page announcing McCreary's capture by the Germans.[5]
Held in captivity for 9 months, McCready was liberated on April 29, 1945, when General George Patton captured Stalag III, freeing all POWs.[2][4]
After leaving the U.S. military, McCreary worked as the Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Finance and Administrative Services, retiring in 1983 after 20 years.[4] He also served as a volunteer bookkeeper for his local Columbus, Ohio YMCA, retiring at the age of 80.[citation needed]
Honors
In 2006, Tuskegee University awarded McCready a Doctor of Public Service honorary degree.[4]
On September 16, 2009, the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition honored Tuskegee Airmen McCready, Charles McGee, Elmer Jones, and several members of the Doolittle Raiders with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland.[6]
Death
On December 20, 2015, McCreary died from heart failure in Columbus, Ohio.[citation needed] He was 97 years and one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen.[citation needed] McCreary was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Columbus.[citation needed]
