His father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., had already broken down barriers as the first brigadier general in the U.S. Army. Officer T63117 Los Angeles CA, Wright, James W., Jr. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 2nd Lt. 0835323 Pittsburgh PA, Wright, Kenneth M. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 01031458 Sheridan WY, Wright, Sandy W. 45-F-SE 9/8/1945 Flt. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 44-J-SE 12/28/1944 Flt. Officer T66405 Philadelphia PA, Green, Paul L. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 2nd Lt. 0835417 Xenia OH, Green, Smith W. 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811280 Los Angeles CA, Green, William W. 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0809240 Staunton VA, Greenlee, George B.,Jr. Tuskegee Airman George Hardy. Officer T64276 Pueblo CO, Spencer, Roy M. 43-B-SE 2/16/1943 2nd Lt. 0797223 Tallahasee FL, Spicer, Cecil 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 2nd Lt. 0843360 Greenville OH, Spriggs, Thurman E. 45-H-SE 11/20/1945 2nd Lt. 0843350 Des Moines IA, Spurlin, Jerome D. 43-J-SE 11/3/1943 2nd Lt. 0814822 Chicago IL, Squires, John W. 44-H-SE 9/8/1944 Flt. Officer T70243 San Antonio TX, Whitney, Yenwith K. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 Flt. 44-I-I-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838159 White Plains NY, Simpson, Jesse H. 44-G-TE 8/4/1944 Flt. Officer T67157 Atlantic City NJ, Washington, Samuel L. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 Flt. Officer T64644 Chicago IL, Williams, Robert W. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 0830797 Ottumwa IA, Williams, Romeo M. 42-K-SE 12/13/1942 2nd Lt. 0794604 Marshall TX, Williams, Thomas E. 45-F-SE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843242 Philadelphia PA, Williams, Vincent E. 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 Flt. Officer T70547 Fort Worth TX, Garrison, Robert E., Jr. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 2nd Lt. 0835408 Columbus OH, Gash, Joseph E. 45-A-SE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841258 Denver CO, Gaskins, Aaron C. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 0843105 Hartford CT, Gay, Thomas L. 44-B-SE 2/8/1944 2nd Lt. 0821911 Detroit MI, Gibson, John A. Like many American boys of his era, he was thrilled by the emergence of flight and by the new image of daredevil pilots spiraling through the skies across America in the first decades of the 20th century. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 Flt. A German Messerschmitt 262A-1 jet-propelled fighter at the Rheinmain Airport, near Frankfurt, Germany, 1945. The U.S. Army Air Corps 332nd Fighter Group, more commonly known as the Tuskegee Airmen, flew P-51 Mustang fighter planes with distinct red tails to signify their unit. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843250 Independence KS, Wilson, Myron 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 Flt. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 Flt. Officer T67970 Cleveland OH, Haley, George J. Fun stories about food, relationships, the great outdoors and more. Hes still a legend today, skydiving in his 90s and taking friends parasailing on the Gulf of Mexico near his home in Sarasota, Florida. On March 19, 1941, the U.S. War Department established the 99th Pursuit Squadron, which, along with a few other squadrons formed later, became better known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Officer T62810 Circleville OH, Jackson, Charles S., Jr. 44-A-SE 1/7/1944 2nd Lt. 0819460 Chicago IL, Jackson, Donald E. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. Officer T69407 East St. Louis IL, Brothers, James E. 43-D-SE 4/29/1943 2nd Lt. 0801162 Chicago IL, Brothers, James E. 44-G-TE 8/4/1944 Flt. Officer T69755 St. Louis MO, Oliphant, Clarence A. Officer T67159 Marshall TX, Johnson, Clarence 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 2nd Lt. 0843006 Newark NJ, Johnson, Conrad A., Jr. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 2nd Lt. 0835411 New York NY, Johnson, Earl C. 45-C-SE 5/23/1945 Flt. Officer T68700 Jamaica NY, Brown, Reuben H., Jr. 45-F-SE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843235 Kansas City MO, Brown, Robert S. 44-H-TE 9/8/1944 2nd Lt. 01048706 Minneapolis MN, Brown, Roger B. Americans know the 332nd and the Red Tails today as the most famous of the Tuskegee Airmen. Officer T64624 Indianapolis IN, Bruce, Samuel M. 42-H-SE 9/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0792417 Seattle WA, Bryant, Grady E. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 2nd Lt. 0843001 Los Angeles CA, Bryant,Joseph C., Jr. 45-E-TE 8/4/1945 Flt. 44-C-SE 3/12/1944 2nd Lt. 0824827 Charlotte NC, Brown, Augustus G. 44-H-TE 9/8/1944 2nd Lt. 01038394 Houma LA, Brown, George A., Jr. 45-E-TE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 0843110 Baltimore MD, Brown, Harold Haywood 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 0830783 Minneapolis MN, Brown, Harold Howard 44-G-TE 8/4/1944 2nd Lt. 0835405 Weeletka OK, Brown, James B. They later staged an elaborate Pan American Goodwill Tour of the Caribbean in their plane, The Spirit of Booker T. Washington.". Officer T69749 Detroit MI, Turner, Allen H. 44-I-1-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838165 Flint MI, Turner, Andrew D. 42-I-SE 10/9/1942 2nd Lt. 0792787 Washington DC 0tD, Turner, Gordon G. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 02075566 Los Angeles CA, Turner, John B. 44-G-TE 8/4/1944 Flt. Officer T67153 Muncie IN, Finley, Clarence C. 45-A-SE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841266 Chicago IL, Finley, Otis 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843245 St. Louis MO, Fischer, James H. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 Flt. Photo by Toni Frissell Collection (Library of Congress). Officer T69976 Gary IN, Myers, Charles P. 44-1-1-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838158 Indianapolis IN, Nalle, Russell C., Jr. 44-H-TE 9/8/1944 Flt. Officer T66141 Chicago IL, Garrett, Alfred E., Jr. 45-G-SE 10/16/1945 Flt. Hardy later piloted giant B-29 bombers during the Korean War and C-119 gunships in Vietnam. Officer T68756 Jamestown NY, Jones, William M. 45-G-SE 10/16/1945 2nd Lt. 02082604 Columbus OH, Jordan, Lowell H. 45-B-TE 4/15/1945 2nd Lt. 0842590 Fort Huachuca AZ, Keel, Daniel 45-G-TE 10/16/1945 Flt. Thats what we admired about him. Officer T69747 Eggertsville NY, Prather, George L. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 Flt. Officer T67976 Detroit MI, Wilson, Bertram W.,Jr. 45-A-SE 3/11/1945 Flt. He found another ally in his quest to fly an unlikely ally. Officer T68706 Chillicothe OH, Jones, Edgar L. 43-I-SE 10/1/1943 2nd Lt. 0814196 New York NY, Jones, Frank D. 45-C-SE 5/23/1945 Flt. Who were the original Tuskegee Airmen?Adams, John H., Jr. 45-B-SE 4/15/1945 2nd Lt. Adams, Paul 43-D-SE 4/29/1943 2nd Lt. Adkins, Rutherford H. Adkins, Winston A. Alexander, Halbert L. Alexander, Harvey R. Alexander, Robert R. Alexander, Walter G. (Courtesy CAF Rise Above via U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama). "This historical landmark is a rich backdrop to a modern, state-of-the-art facility providing top-notch training and education, while serving as an economic engine for the region," says the City of Tuskegee online. 45-A-SE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841257 Columbus GA, Collins, Gamaliel M. 44-I-I-TE 10/16/1944 Flt. Officer T69753 New Orleans LA, Dickerson, Charles W. 43-J-SE 11/3/1943 2nd Lt. 0814829 New Rochelle NY, Dickerson, Page L. 45-G-SE 10/16/1945 Flt. The daring pair also made a long-distance flight to Canada. The Tuskegee Airmen have a Officer T64639 Brooklyn NY, Merriweather, Robert O. 46-A-TE 3/23/1946 Flt. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER, "We worked together and we depended on each other," said Hardy. Tuskegee Airmen Clip | 6m 53s Loaded 0% / On March 7, 1942, the first class of cadets graduated from Tuskegee Army Air Field to become the nation's first Members in the 332nd Fighter Group were tasked with escorting bomber He taught himself to fly in the 1920s and became chief flight instructor at the Tuskegee Institute in World War II. TopHBCUs. "They had one of the lowest loss records of any escort fighter group," says the National World War II Museum. Officer T66408 Los Angeles CA, Collins, Russell L. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 Flt. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt supported the Civilian Pilot Training Program and the War Training Service. Officer T64272 Philadelphia PA, Armstrong, William P. 44-H-SE 9/8/1944 Flt. Tuskegee is Ranked #4 among Officer T70223 Detroit MI, Fuller, Willie H. 42-G-SE 8/5/1942 2nd Lt. 0790934 Tarboro NC, Funderburg, Frederick D. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817585 Monticello GA, Gaines, Thurston L., Jr. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 Flt. 43-F-SE 6/30/1943 2nd Lt. 08071 07 Bronx NY, Roach, Charles J. 44-B-SE 2/8/1944 2nd Lt. 0821923 Los Angeles CA, Williams, LeRoi S. 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0809260 Roanoke VA, Williams, Leslie A. Cooper, Edward M. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 02080879 Sharon LA, Corbin, Matthew J. Officer T70231 Bryn Mawr PA, Brooks, Milton R. 43-E-SE 5/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0804547 Glassport PA, Brooks, Sidney P. 42-D-SE 4/29/1942 2nd Lt. 0789118 Cleveland OH, Brooks, Tilford U. Officer T64625 Pittsburgh PA, Harris, Herbert S. 43-F-SE 6/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0806279 Philadelphia PA, Harris, James E. 44-J-5E 12/28/1944 2nd Lt. 0840204 Xenia OH, Harris, John S. 45-E-TE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 0843113 Richmond KY, Harris, Louis K. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 0830786 St. Louis MO, Harris, Macao A., Jr. 43-I-SE 10/1/1943 2nd Lt. 0814193 Boston MA, Harris, Richard H. 43-F-SE 6/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0807096 Montgomery AL, Harris, Stanley L. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817587 St. Paul MN, Harris, Thomas D., Jr. 45-F-SE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843233 Brooklyn NY, Harrison, Alvin E., Jr. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. (Tuskegee University Archives). 45-A-TE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841273 New York NY, Scott, Floyd R., Jr. 45-F-SE 9/8/1945 Flt. 43-A-SE 1/14/1943 2nd Lt. 0796267 Durham NC, Mills, Theodore H. 43:J-SE 11/3/1943 2nd Lt. 0814933 New Rochelle NY, Mitchell, James T., Jr. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 Flt. Charles "Chief" Anderson was the first licensed Black commercial pilot in America in 1932. The flight brought much-needed attention to the Tuskegee Airmen. Officer T67985 Lovelady TX, Wright, Frank N. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 2nd Lt. 0835332 Elmsford NY, Wright, Hiram 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 Flt. "The Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 15,000 sorties between May 1943 and June 1945," reports the National World War II Museum. He stands among the many legendary figures to emerge from the famous unit, trained to fly and fight under a system devised and led by self-taught pilot Chief Anderson. NJ, Gallwey, James H. 46-A-SE 3/23/1946 2nd Lt. 02078775 Oswego NY, Gamble, Howard C. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817586 Charleston WV, Gant, Morris E. 44-H-SE 9/8/1944 Flt. Officer T67977 St. Louis MO, Knight, Calvin M. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 Flt. 44-A-TE 1/7/1944 2nd Lt. 0819450 Washington PA, Russell, James C. 45-G-TE 10/16/1945 Flt. Officer T70563 Los Angeles CA, Williams, Charles I. The nickname "Chief" was an accolade accorded the civilian by his Army students. George Hardy flew with the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, the Tuskegee Airmen, in 1945. 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0809246 Los Angeles CA, Long, Clyde C., Jr. 45-B-SE 4/15/1945 Flt. Tuskegees daring fighter pilots draw all the popular acclaim today, but were only one part of the story. Officer T69977 Youngstown OH, Parker, Melvin 44-J-SE 12/28/1944 Flt. Lt. Col. Hardy recently returned from Hollywood, where he was recorded in digital detail for a pending exhibit at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars, has died. 45-C-SE 5/23/1945 2nd Lt. 0842888 Springfield MO, Woods, Carl J. Phone: 334-727-8011. Market data provided by Factset. Some 14,000 Tuskegee Airmen served in World War II, including hundreds of its now-legendary fighter pilots. 43-B-SE 2/16/1943 2nd Lt. 0797219 Newark NJ, Gray, Elliott H. 45-F-SE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843236 Tuskegee Inst. He was 102. 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811240 Indianapolis IN, Daniels, John 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 01106669 Chicago IL, Daniels, Robert H., Jr. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817582 Corona NY, Daniels, Thomas J., III 44-1-1-SE 10/16/1944 Flt. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 Flt. He later flew bombers in Korea and fixed-wing gunships in Vietnam. 42-G-SE 8/5/1942 2nd Lt. 0790936 Philadelphia PA, Harris, Edward 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 Flt. 46-C-TE 6/28/1946 2nd Lt. 02102115 Detroit MI, Rucker, William A. 46-A-TE 3/23/1946 Flt. The Tuskegee Institute hired Anderson to head its Civilian Pilot Training program in 1940. Somebody had to do it, says Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, a 99-year-old member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen.As the first Black pilots in U.S. military Dubbed "Chief" by his students, he was the lead flight instructor at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Vernon NY, Tucker, Paul 45-B-SE 4/15/1945 Flt. Woodhouse (LAW55) is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Americas first all-Black combat flying unit, which flew during World War II. Unit members werent even allowed to be trained alongside white soldiers. Just 66 Tuskegee Airmen were lost in combat in World War II. Officer T64629 Denver CO, Rodgers, Marion R. 44-B-SE 2/8/1944 2nd Lt. 0821920 Elizabeth NJ, Rogers, Amos A. The Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for desegregation in the military, and one of their last surviving members has passed away, with Markham resident Oscar Officer T70432 Emporia KS, Terry, Roger C. 44-K-TE 2/1/1945 2nd Lt. 0841165 Los Angeles CA. He later flew bombers in Korea and fixed-wing gunships in Vietnam. 45-A-TE 3/11/1945 Flt. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Officer T70423 Philadelphia PA, Williams, James R. 45-G-TE 10/16/1945 2nd Lt. 02068906 Bryn Mawr PA, Williams, Joseph H. 44-I-TE 11/20/1944 2nd Lt. 0839097 Chicago IL, Williams, Kenneth I. More information on the Tuskegee Airmen can be found at the website of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. www.tuskegeeairmen.org. Officer T149986 Detroit MI, Barland, Herbert C. 44-H-SE 9/8/1944 2nd Lt. 01168159 Chicago IL, Barnes, Gentry E. 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 2nd Lt. 0828045 Lawrenceville IL, Barnett, Herman A. Officer T67988 Bronx NY, Quander, Charles].,Jr. 44-J-SE 12/28/1944 Flt. He's believed to be the first African American commercial pilot in the United States. 44-B-SE 2/8/1944 2nd Lt. 0821924 Cheriton VA, Wofford, Kenneth O. 43-I-SE 10/1/1943 2nd Lt. 0814206 Jersey City NJ, Scott, Joseph P. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 0843107 Chicago IL, Scott, Wayman E. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. "We couldn't keep up with them," Hardy, the 97-year-old Tuskegee Airman, told Fox News Digital. He retired in 1972 after a 30-year military career. Officer T64626 Junction City KS, Norton, George G., Jr. 45-B-TE 4/15/1945 Flt.