Tuskegee Connections Part Two: Elwood “Woody” Thomas Driver
The day I was consciously introduced to cousin Woody was the day I realized there were far more Drivers in the world than the handful who gathered around our Thanksgiving table. Until then, I thought “Driver” meant only my immediate family. That moment opened a door—to family history, heritage, and pride.
TUSKEGEE AIRMENPRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER99TH FIGHTER SQUADRONCOMBAT MISSIONS
Wayne Karl Driver
9/12/20252 min read
Headlines that Made History
In 1978, Mr. Driver was appointed to the National Transportation Safety Board by President Jimmy Carter.
I first heard the name Elwood “Woody” Thomas Driver when a neighbor spotted our shared surname in the daily headlines. He asked if I was related. I don’t recall my reply, but I do remember rushing home to ask my parents. My father reminded me that I had, in fact, met him once—during a church homecoming in Gloucester County, Virginia. I don’t have all the details, but what little I remember has stayed with me for over 40 years.
About Woody & Me
Elwood “Woody” Thomas Driver was born on August 20, 1921, in Trenton, New Jersey. His parents, Robert Thomas Driver and Mary Susan Morris, were both born in Gloucester County, Virginia, before migrating to New Jersey in the 1920s.
Woody and I share the same 2nd great-grandparents, Addison Driver and Elizabeth Collier.
The Tuskegee Connection & Beyond
Elwood Thomas Driver was one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, and his record speaks volumes:
✈️ Tuskegee Airmen Service
Joined the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942; trained in Tuskegee, Alabama
Assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron
Flew 123 combat missions in Italy
Shot down a German Focke-Wulf 190 over Anzio on Feb. 4, 1944
Heroically escorted another pilot with an oil leak back to base that same month
Rose to Major before retiring from active service in 1962
Later Recognition
After the war, Elwood Driver became a respected voice in aviation safety:
🏅 Achievements
Played a pivotal role in the 1979 Chicago DC-10 crash investigation as part of the NTSB
Honored at the Smithsonian’s Wall of Honor
Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (2006) alongside fellow Tuskegee Airmen
Laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in 1992
The Stage Connection
The Tuskegee Airmen’s story has inspired the arts. Two plays, Black Eagles (1989) and Fly (2009, revised 2012+), brought their courage to the stage. These works came from playwright Ricardo Khan, whose mother, Jacqueline Driver, is also connected to the Driver family tree.
Family Roots & Continuing the Journey
Every path I trace in my Driver family history leads back to Gloucester County, Virginia. While Tuskegee is still on my travel list, the connections I’ve uncovered have already carried me across time and place.
As I’ve shared in earlier blogs—When Your Favorite Uncle is Really Your Cousin, The Shepherd: Addison Driver, and Tuskegee Connections Part One: Matthew Theodore Driver—our family’s story is one of service, resilience, and impact.
Years ago, I wrote The Road Back to Route 606 – The History of the Driver Family from Gloucester County, VA. That book relied on paper records, but DNA research is now adding new dimensions to the story. One day, it will need an update. If you’d like a copy, it’s available on Amazon.
