Obituaries : Alexton Squire Boone; Tuskegee Airman

Alexton Squire Boone--one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, an elite squadron of African American pilots during World War II--has died. He was 75.

Boone died this month of heart failure at his Northridge home, according to his wife, Rosabella.

Born July 31, 1920, in Los Angeles, Boone was reared in Pasadena, where he received an associate of arts degree in architectural design from Pasadena Junior College. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

During his stint at the Tuskegee Institute and Airfield, Boone became one of the first Tuskegee Airmen, pilots who battled racism in the armed services as much as they fought the enemy in Europe. Their flying prowess earned the pilots more than 850 medals, and the Airmen lost none of the B-17 bombers they escorted across Europe.

After the war, Boone returned to California where he continued his architecture studies at USC. After working for two architectural firms, he became an architectural engineer for Hughes Aircraft and later Rockwell International. He retired in 1982.

Boone was an active member of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., a group of former squadron pilots. He also served on the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Committee, the Advisory Board at North Valley Occupational Center, and as a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program.

Last week, Rosabella Boone was presented a certificate by City Councilman Hal Bernson for her husband’s community service work.

“I knew he was a great guy, but I didn’t know I was married to a hero,” said Mrs. Boone, who married Boone in 1958. “I’ve gotten calls from all over and enough cards to wallpaper a house.”

In addition to his wife, Boone is survived by his sister, Mildred Boone of Los Angeles; two brothers, Tommy Boone of Pomona and Gary Boone of Altadena; a grandson and a great-grandson.

Boone died July 5 and a memorial service was held July 10 at Forest Lawn Memorial-Park) in Glendale.