February 20, 1894 (Brooklyn, NY) – March 2, 1944 (Admiralty Islands); 50 years old
Married to Frances Mercedes Schang (1897-1985) on March 4, 1922 in New York City
Son, Everett L. King (1925-2009), and a daughter, Mary E. King Wilson (1923-2005).
Last local address: Chestnut Hill Avenue
Served in World War I & II
Service Number O-185107
Unit: 5th Army Air Force Fighter Command
Born to Everett L. (1874-?) and Sarah Smith King (1875-?).
He served as a flight instructor at the Tuskegee Institute.
Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal.
From The Orlando Evening Star March 16, 1944
Major Everett W. King, formerly stationed at AAFTAC, has been killed in action in the South Pacific war zone, according to word received yesterday by his wife Mrs. Frances King, now residing in Orlando. He met his death on March 2. According to the last reports Major King was stationed in New Guinea and was in charge of an amphibious control section, often participating in landing operations, going ashore with the first wave of men, and immediately setting up aircraft warning facilities. He was well known in Orlando and was a member of the first controller class to be graduated here in April 1942. Following this, he taught here for several months and then went on to teach at Tuskegee Institute. He returned to Orlando shortly before leaving for overseas in September 1942. Mrs. King is employed at AAFTAC where she works in the military personnel section. Major King was 50 years of age and a member of the National Guard from 1916-1917 during the Mexican border trouble. At the outbreak of the war in 1917, he reenlisted and graduated from Officer Candidate School, served with the 106th Machine Gun Battalion overseas, and was in three major engagements. As a civilian in New York and Connecticut, Major King operated his own industrial design studio. In April 1941, he was called to Washington by the War Department and worked with the Office of Civilian Defense. He received his commission in March 1942 and was assigned to Orlando. He is survived by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, now attending the University of North Carolina, who is engaged to Lieutenant Byron Wilson, formerly of AAFTAC, and also a son, Private Everett Lincoln, 18, who is a pre-aviation cadet stationed at Moody Field, George. Major King’s assignment at Tuskegee was teaching the fighter pilots of the Army’s first negro air squadron. His daughter better known as “Mary Lou” was a popular member of the younger social and military set in Orlando the last two summers, and was employed on the Reporter-Star as a reporter for several weeks in 1943.
From The Norwalk Hour March 16, 1944
KILLED IN ACTION IN SO. PACIFIC
Chestnut Hill Avenue Man Was Veteran Of World War 1; Son is Aviation Cadet
Major Everett Wilfred King of Chestnut Hill Avenue, Norwalk, and Orlando, Florida, lost his life in enemy action in the Southwest Pacific Theater on March 2, according to a telegram from the War Department sent today to his wife, Mrs. Frances Schang King, now residing at 605 Marks Street, Orlando. Major King was commissioned as a Captain in the Air Corps two years ago and proceeded to the southwest with the 5th Fighter Command after a period in which he had been an instructor in tactics at the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics in Orlando. He is survived by his widow; a son, Everett Lincoln, who is an aviation cadet at Moody Field, George; a daughter, Mary Elizabeth a student at the University of North Carolina, and an aunt, Miss Carrie Smith of 57 West 53rd Street, New York City. His brother-in-law Is Major Frederick C. Schang Jr., now stationed at Mitchell Field in the Headquarters of the First Air Force. The King family is well known throughout the county. The daughter and son attended Norwalk High School. Major King was the son of Everett Lincoln and Sara Smith King and was descended on both sides from Revolutionary stock. He was born in Brooklyn 50 years ago last month and attended Francis Xavier School. He was a member of Troop C and served on the Mexican border and was a veteran of World War I, having been with the first outfit shipped over there and returning with the last one to leave. He survived five major engagements without a scratch, including the months-long campaign at Ypres. Among the relations of Major King were General John Coffee, a General Smith who served on Stonewall Jackson’s staff, and one Abel Smith, a private in the Revolutionary Army who received an honorable discharge written out and signed by General Washington, which paper is still in the family’s possession.
Buried in Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Drive, Arlington, Virginia; Section 8, Site 5244-D. Photo from Arlington National Cemetery Explorer website.
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