Joseph Gomer (June 20, 1920 – October 10, 2013) was an American pilot who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

Early life

Gomer was born in Iowa Falls, Iowa in 1920. He attended and graduated from Ellsworth Community College.^{[citation needed]}

Military service

In 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and carried out over 160 special missions until 1947. During World War II, he was shot down by an enemy fighter, but he survived.^[1] By 1964, he achieved the rank of major and soon after retired. Gomer spent more than 20 years working for the US Forest Service.^[2]

Honors

In 1985, he received the Superior Services Award for his work with minorities and women. In 2004, Gomer was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame and was also awarded with a Doctorate of Humanities from the Ellsworth College. George W. Bush awarded the Tuskegee Airmen collectively, including Gomer, with a Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.^[3] He was also invited to several events by current USA president, Barack Obama. At the Duluth International Airport, Gomer was honored by a bronze statue built at a new terminal located in the Duluth Airport.^[4] In 2013, Iowa Falls honored Gomer with a bronze statue, located on the campus of Ellsworth Community College.^[5]

Personal life

He married Elizabeth Caperton in 1949, who died in 2012. The couple had two daughters, Tanya and Phyllis. Gomer died on October 10, 2013, of cancer.^[6]