Coast Guard’s first African-American captain remembered as inspiration

Bobby C. Wilks broke color barriers to fulfill dream of flight

By Petty Officer Robert Brazzell
U.S. Coast Guard

Saturday, October 31, 2009

With his hands cupped to the sides of his head, the dark-skinned boy pressed his face against the store window. His eyes raced through the store finally resting on several model airplanes hanging by string from the ceiling. “Ring-ding,” the bell overhanging the entrance sung as a young boy walked out holding a detailed model airplane. A sign labeled whites only clamored against the door of the toy store as it shut behind him. The storeowner noticing the boy in the window, motioned him to the ally behind the store.

“I need the next batch of planes by Friday, can you do that?” asked the man.

“Yes sir,” responded the boy.

The man reached into this pocket and pulled out a few coins. “Here’s the money for the last batch, don’t be late.”

It was 1940 in St. Louis, Mo., and Bobby C. Wilks spent his spare time building model airplanes for the storeowner and dreaming of one day becoming a great pilot. Little did he know at the time, he would achieve his dream and so much more.

Summer 1963, Wilks tightly clenches the control stick of a HU-16 Albatross amphibious airplane. Increasing the power, he races towards a naval destroyer.

His mission is to rescue a critically-ill sailor needing immediate surgery. Due to heavy seas, the plane is unable to perform a normal landing to rendezvous with the ship.

“Tango, this is Seven Two Three Four, from where I sit, the safest place to land is in your wake,” Wilks radioed to the ship. “Hold your position until I set up an approach pattern, then give it all you got!”

Flying at minimum air speed, Wilks skimmed along the tops of the waves then chopped the power, dropped in and slammed his plane’s propellers into reverse. Fighting for control, after a few hard bounces, the aircraft slows to a stop just shy of the vessel’s stern.

After getting the crewmember aboard, Wilks’ next challenge was getting his plane airborne. Unable to use his jet-fuel thrusters to boost out of the water, Wilks knew desperate action was needed to save this man’s life.

Wilks turned to his co-pilot and proposed a radical solution. The co-pilot knew Wilks’ plan was not only against the book, but if his attempt failed, it would send them crashing into the back of the destroyer.

“Just do it!” Wilks said.

The engines jumped to life and screamed as they reached full power. The aircraft skipped a few times over the frothy ocean as it quickly closed in on the fantail of the destroyer. Just at the last second, the aircraft lifted off the crest of a large wave, launching the airplane to safety and Wilks’ reputation as a pilot willing to put his life on the line to save another.

Coast Guard Capt. Bobby C. Wilks’ life was not determined by chance, but by his sheer dedication to achieve his dream. In a 1960’s society, rife with segregation and inequality, Wilks found opportunity in the United States Coast Guard. In this opportunity, he became widely known as a renowned pilot, a mentor and a forerunner for minorities in the United States military.

Historically, Wilks will be remembered in the Coast Guard as the first African American aviator to reach the rank of captain and the first African American to command an air station. To his family and friends, he will be remembered as an inspiration.

Wilks began his Coast Guard career as a reservist but was immediately accepted into Coast Guard Officer Candidate School. Wilks earned the rank of ensign and was stationed at Coast Guard Group Baltimore, Md. Setting his sights on aviation, Wilks applied for, and was accepted into flight school where he earned his aviator wings and fulfilled his dream of serving his country as a pilot.

Even though Wilks was one of the first African Americans to go though flight school, he was highly regarded by his fellow Coast Guard pilots.

“I do know that there was no one in the group that I know of that did not fully accept him as one of us,” said former Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. John Mosley, Wilks’ friend and fellow flight student. “He was one hell of a great guy!”

Retired Coast Guard captain and close friend, Dallas Schmidt, added, “He was sharp, extremely likeable and a darn ‘good stick’. I credit him directly for fine tuning my skills that I needed to become an aircraft commander.”