Pilot, Commander, and Our First Black US Air Force General
Frederick Douglas, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman may be the most often mentioned Black History heroes. However, there are many more whose names most people might not recognize. One of these heroes is Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
As
the first African-American US Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis Jr is
probably most well known as the commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen. General Davis grew
up fully aware of racial inequality through his father's struggles as one of
the only two African-American combat officers in the army. Due to his
race, he was unable to advance. Thus, young Davis vowed to change
segregation and racial inequality and was in a big part responsible for many of
the changes we see today.
Even
though graduating near the top of his class at West Point, he was
rejected, minimalized, and not allowed to fly or
to advance. Impending war and politics opened a tiny window of
opportunity. For appearances, a black commander was needed for the Air
Corps first black unit. As a West Point graduate, Davis was a perfect choice
and began flight school in Tuskegee AAF.
He
and his men of the 99th Fighter Squadron fought bravely without the most modern
planes available at the time and with few men for rotations. Not only did
they relentlessly fight the enemy but were also at war with those who would
shut their unit down as well.
Through
a rousing testimony to a committee charged with determining their fate, Davis
ensured not only would the 99th survive but would also receive better
planes. With these better planes, they, now combined with the 332d,
became escorts for Air Force bombers. Along with their many incredible
achievements, during their 200 escort missions, they never lost a bomber to an
enemy fighter.
In 1949,
the achievements of Davis and the Tuskegee Airmen were pivotal in the argument
of why integration would strengthen the Air Force. In the many
years that followed, Davis fought the bigotry
in Alabama to attend the Air War College, graduated and began working at
the Pentagon.
In
many of his future positions, he supervised thousands of white men who
dutifully followed him. A crowning accomplishment was creating a
defensive air force – from scratch – in Taipei, Taiwan to protect against an
attack from Communist China. Before he retired in 1970, he continued to
make more advances and more stars. Thus, Davis had achieved his
mission to end segregation in the military.
Benjamin O. Davis Jr., an aviation
pioneer is one of the most famous Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.
Picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benjamindavis.jpg
PD-USGOV-MILITARY-AIR
FORCE.
Black &
Women's History: Mary Ellen Pleasant (1812'ish-1904)
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