African American Military Pioneer. He was the last surviving member of the first class of the Famed Tuskegee Airmen headed by General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Having received a BS Degree from Howard University in 1938, he became Hartford County's first African American police officer in 1939. At the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Army and was one of only four pilots that graduated from Class 42-C at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, in 1942. Assigned to the all black 99th Fighter Squadron, he flew 92 combat missions in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 to July 1944, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. None of the bombers, he and fellow pilots were charged with escorting were lost to enemy aircraft. Returning to Tuskegee he was advanced as the first African American flight instructor. In 1946, he was released from active military service as a Army Air Force Major. He retired as the Chief Examiner, Tax Department for the State of Connecticut, after 30 years service in 1980. In 1995, he was a consultant for the HBO movie, "The Tuskegee Airmen" and served on the Board of Directors at the New England Air Museum in Washington D.C. His life achievements were recognized by Central Connecticut State University with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree in 2001.
African American Military Pioneer. He was the last surviving member of the first class of the Famed Tuskegee Airmen headed by General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Having received a BS Degree from Howard University in 1938, he became Hartford County's first African American police officer in 1939. At the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Army and was one of only four pilots that graduated from Class 42-C at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, in 1942. Assigned to the all black 99th Fighter Squadron, he flew 92 combat missions in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 to July 1944, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. None of the bombers, he and fellow pilots were charged with escorting were lost to enemy aircraft. Returning to Tuskegee he was advanced as the first African American flight instructor. In 1946, he was released from active military service as a Army Air Force Major. He retired as the Chief Examiner, Tax Department for the State of Connecticut, after 30 years service in 1980. In 1995, he was a consultant for the HBO movie, "The Tuskegee Airmen" and served on the Board of Directors at the New England Air Museum in Washington D.C. His life achievements were recognized by Central Connecticut State University with an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree in 2001.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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