Retired Air Force Col Kenneth Wofford died on Sunday, September 5th. Mr. Wofford served in World War II with the 99th Squadron which is referred to as the Tuskegee Airman. He was buried at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery on September 10th with military honors.
Kenneth Wofford, Sr. was born 22 November 1922 to Clarence and “Queenie” Wofford in Wagoner, Oklahoma. He was a 1941 graduate of Lincoln High School of Carthage, the segregated school for Carthage’s African-American students. Wofford entered Lincoln University determined to pursue a medical career despite many obstacles but ended up a Tuskegee Airman during World War II. Kenneth earned his flight wings at Moton Field, Alabama. His first solo was in a Piper J-3 Cub.
Colonel Wofford flew numerous types of aircraft in the course of his 32-year career with the U.S. Air Force during which he accumulated more than 9,000 hours of flying in single and multi engine aircraft. The aircraft he flew during his illustrious career included the B-25, B-29, C47, C‐118 and C‐135. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal.
Major job assignments included the positions of Executive, Director, Manager, and Supervisor; also 14 years as the Commander of varied type Support Units, Aviation Flying Squadrons, and the large Tachikawa Air Base Complex (with six satellite bases). Served with Tactical Air Command, Air Defense Command, Military Airlift Command, United States Air Force Europe (twice) Pacific Air Command and Air University. Had periods of duty in Joint-Service capacities with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and NATO (National Atlantic Treaty Organization); also years of interrelations with many allied Foreign Government (Agencies/Officials).
Kenneth Wofford retired from the Air Force and commenced a second career in service with MN/DOT where he headed the Aeronautics Office for 10 years. Among his later projects was lecture and inspire youth, both inner city and urban, urging them to continue their schooling and finish their education. Wofford served as a regular volunteer at the Lindbergh Terminal’s Servicemen’s Center. He was a member of the Rawlings Chapter of the Air Force Association and convinced the chapter to sponsor aerospace education in elementary schools, He helped build a flight simulator to show young students what it felt like to fly. He was a long-time promoter of the Air Guard Museum and the Civil Air Patrol.
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