1920 - 2001
Louis Purnell Historian
00
Louis Purnell dating history
Relationships
We have no records of past relationships for Louis Purnell.
About
Louis Purnell is a member of the following lists: People from Wilmington, Delaware, 1920 births and 2001 deaths.
Contribute
Who is Louis Purnell dating? Louis Purnell partner, spouse list. Help us build our profile of Louis Purnell!
Login
to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions.
Details
| Birthday |
11th April, 1920
|
| Birthplace |
Snow Hill, Maryland
|
| Died |
10th August, 2001
|
| Place of Death |
Washington, DC
|
| Zodiac Sign |
Aries
|
| Occupation Text |
Curator and Museum Specialist
|
| Occupation |
Historian
|
Louis Rayfield Purnell, Sr. (April 5, 1920 – August 10, 2001) was a noted curator at the National Air and Space Museum and earlier in life, a decorated Tuskegee Airman.
At the museum, he became expert in space flight artifacts, particularly spacesuits, and was instrumental in curating artifacts related to space exploration, during the 1960s and into the 1980s.
Purnell was the first African-American to become a curator at the Smithsonian Institution.
As a captain in the Army Air Corps and a fighter pilot, he served in the European and North African theater during World War II.
For his service during the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters.
