Born Aug. 20, 1921, in Trenton, N.J. He was the oldest of 4 children, 2 brothers and a sister. He was industrious, good at setting and attaining goals for himself. He "had his eyes on the sky' at an early age and earned a pilot's license while attending college (New Jersey State). He totally financed his college education working at the college, and then washed airplanes on the weekend in exchange for flying lessons.
Elwood applied for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy. He received the highest score on the test, finishing ahead of every white applicant. The Naval Academy had never admitted a black midshipman and did not want to break the color line. They gave him a physical and flunked him because he had a few overlapping teeth. Technically, they called it "malocclusion of the molars".
Furious but focused, he applied to the Army for assignment to the newly established Army Air Corps Flying School at Tuskegee Institute. This program, often called the "Tuskegee Experiment", trained the first black pilots in the then totally segregated military.
Elwood completed training and graduated in the class of 42- I. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Fighter Squadron and transferred overseas. Lt. Driver served as Flight Commander 99th Fighter Squadron, 1942 - 44. He flew 123 combat missions, shot down I confirmed enemy aircraft and I probable. His wartime record earned him a: Commendation Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal With Clusters, European Theatre of Operations (ETO) Medal.
Always interested in safety and aspects pertaining to it, during his military career he served as Director of Training at Tuskegee; Director of Safety, Far East Air Logistic Forces; Asst. Dir. Of Personnel and Safety, Chanute AFB. He retired as a Major after 20 yrs. of service.
Following retirement from the AF, Driver worked for 5 yrs. at North American
Aviation as Chief of System Safety Management and Engineering for Minuteman.
He then served in the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) in a series of responsible managerial and executive positions over the
next 11 years, earning the Department of Transportation's Special Achievement
Award in 1975. From 1978-81, he was Vice Chairman of the National
Transportation Safety Board, appointed by President Jimmy Carter.
There is a painting of Driver permanently exhibited in NASA's Space Art Gallery in the Visitor's Center at Kennedy Space Center. The artist, Roy LaGrone, is internationally acclaimed, and also a Tuskegee Airman.
Following his death on March 26, 1992, Elwood "Woody" Driver was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.