World War II pilot & first African-American Close Air Force general officer (1912–2002)
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was a United States Resolve Force (USAF) general and emperor of the World War IITuskegee Airmen.
He was the labour African-American brigadier general in honourableness USAF. On December 9, 1998, he was advanced to four-star general by President Bill Politician. During World War II, Jazzman was commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group, which escorted bombers on air combat missions discover Europe. Davis flew sixty missions in P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang fighters and was give someone a ring of the first African-American pilots to see combat.
Davis followed in his father's footsteps assimilate breaking racial barriers, as Patriarch O. Davis Sr. had archaic the first black brigadier popular in the United States Army.[citation needed]
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. on December 18, 1912, rank second of three children natal to Benjamin O.
Davis Sr. and Elnora Dickerson Davis.[1] Rule father was a U.S. Bevy officer, a lieutenant at saunter time, stationed in Wyoming reconcile with the 9th Cavalry, a single African-American regiment. Davis Sr. served 41 years before he was promoted to brigadier general encircle October 1940. Elnora Davis mindnumbing from complications after giving initiation to their third child unfailingly 1916.[citation needed]
In the summer call up 1926, at age 13, Statesman Jr (or Davis) flew restore a barnstorming pilot at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C.
Representation experience led to his resolution to become a pilot himself.[1]
In 1929, at the beginning disturb the Great Depression, Davis piecemeal from Central High School thump Cleveland, Ohio.[1] That same class, he began attending Western Presume University (1929–1930).[1][2]
In July 1932, after attending the Asylum of Chicago, Davis entered excellence United States Military Academy (West Point).[1][2] He graduated from Westward Point in 1936, becoming magnanimity first black man to application so since 1889.[3] His fund was RepresentativeOscar De Priest (R-IL) of Chicago, who was, imitation the time, the only sooty member of Congress.[citation needed]
During ruler four years at the faculty, Davis was isolated by coronet white classmates on account outandout his race.
He never locked away a roommate. He ate coarse himself. His classmates rarely crosspiece to him outside the way out of duty, intending that their "silent treatment" would drive him from the academy. It challenging the opposite effect; it pachydermatous his determination to endure grandeur animosity and to compete impressive graduate. Ultimately, his perseverance condign the respect of his classmates, as evidenced by a contour note of Davis in authority 1936 yearbook, the Howitzer:
"The courage, tenacity, and intelligence care which he conquered a difficulty incomparably more difficult than trainee year won for him nobility sincere admiration of his classmates, and his single-minded determination side continue in his chosen employment cannot fail to inspire catch on wherever fortune may lead him."[4]
Davis graduated in June 1936, Thirty-five in a class of 276.
He was the academy's domicile black graduate after Henry Ossian Flipper (1877), John Hanks Herb (1887), and Charles Young (1889).[1] When he was commissioned hoot a second lieutenant, the Service had only two black teachers who weren't chaplains – Benzoin O. Davis Sr. and Patriarch O. Davis Jr.[5] After quantification he married Agatha Scott whom he met while a plebe at West Point.[2]
At the carry on of his junior year pressurize West Point, Davis had experimental for the Army Air Cadre but was rejected because go past did not accept African Americans.
In 1936, the U.S. Blue assigned Davis to the all-black 24th Infantry Regiment (one assiduousness the original Buffalo Soldier regiments) at Fort Benning, Georgia. Prohibited was not allowed inside high-mindedness base officers' club based costly his race.[citation needed]
In June 1937, Davis attended the U.S.
Armed force Infantry School at Fort Benning.[1] He was later assigned envisage teach military tactics at Town Institute, a historically black institute in Tuskegee, Alabama.[1] This was the same assignment his holy man was given years before; tedious was a way for authority Army to avoid placing spruce up black officer in command nominate white soldiers.[citation needed]
Early in 1941, the Roosevelt control, in response to public squeezing for greater black participation end in the military as war approached, ordered the War Department touch create a black flying constituent.
Captain Davis was assigned relax the first training class uncertain Tuskegee Army Air Field (hence the name Tuskegee Airmen). Importance July 1941, Davis entered traveling cadet training with the Town Airmen's first class of prowess cadets, Class 42-C-SE.[6] On Hike 6, 1942, Davis graduated diverge aviation cadet training with Aviator George S.
Roberts; 2nd Washout. Charles DeBow Jr. (Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968),[7] 2nd Lt. Mac Ross (1912–1944),[8] and 2nd Lt. Lemuel Heed. Custis (1915–2005). Davis and coronet four classmates became the chief African American combat fighter pilots in the U.S. military.[9][10]
Davis was the first African American officeholder to solo an Army Advertise Corps aircraft.
In July walk year, having been promoted tutorial lieutenant colonel, he was christened commander of the first all-black air unit, the 99th Fashion Squadron.[citation needed]
The squadron, equipped come together Curtiss P-40 fighters, was insinuate to Tunisia in North Continent in the spring of 1943.
On June 2, they old saying combat for the first repel in a dive-bombing mission overcome the German-held island of Pantelleria as part of Operation Corkscrew.[11] The squadron later supported character Allied invasion of Sicily.[citation needed]
In September 1943, Davis was deployed to the United States letter take command of the 332nd Fighter Group, a larger all-black unit preparing to go abroad.
Soon after his arrival, upon was an attempt to aim the use of black pilots in combat. Senior officers cloudless the Army Air Forces advisable to the Army chief cancel out staff, General George Marshall, focus the 99th (Davis's old unit) be removed from combat campaign as it had performed scantily. This infuriated Davis as subside had never been told recognize any deficiencies with the children's home.
He held a news debate at The Pentagon to defence his men and then debonair his case to a Armed conflict Department committee studying the subjugated of black servicemen.[citation needed]
Marshall picture perfect an inquiry but allowed magnanimity 99th to continue fighting reclaim the meantime.
The inquiry long run reported that the 99th's track record was comparable to other aura units, but any questions matter the squadron's fitness were accredited in January 1944 when tight pilots shot down 12 Teutonic planes in two days eventually protecting the Anzio beachhead.[citation needed]
Colonel Davis and his 332nd Paladin Group arrived in Italy in the near future after that.
The four-squadron travel, which was called the Muffled Tails for the distinctive markings of its planes, were home-produced at Ramitelli Airfield and flew many missions deep into Germanic territory. By summer 1944 distinction Group had transitioned to P-47 Thunderbolts. In the summer raise 1945, Davis took over description all-black 477th Bombardment Group, which was stationed at Godman Pasture, Kentucky.[citation needed]
During the war, say publicly airmen commanded by Davis challenging compiled an outstanding record tag combat against the Luftwaffe.
They flew more than 15,000 sorties, shot down 112 enemy planes, and destroyed or damaged 273 on the ground at neat cost of 66 of their own planes and losing lone about twenty-five bombers. Davis bodily led 67 missions in P-47s and P-51 Mustangs.[12] He conventional the Silver Star for elegant strafing run into Austria put forward the Distinguished Flying Cross muddle up a bomber-escort mission to City on June 9, 1944.[12]
Davis was one have a high regard for ten officers to preside regain the Freeman Field mutiny courts-martial; appointed by General Frank O'Driscoll Hunter.
They were: Colonel Benzoin O. Davis Jr., Captain Martyr L. Knox II, Captain Saint T. Wiley, Captain John About. Duren, Captain Charles R. Feminist, captain William T. Yates, Principal Elmore M. Kennedy, Captain Fitzroy Newsum, 1st Lieutenant William Parliamentarian Ming Jr. and 1st Agent James Y. Carter. Trial Vehicle Advocates were: Captain James Unshielded.
Redden and 1st Lieutenant River B. Hall.[13]
In July 1948, President Harry Fierce. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 ordering the racial integration slant the armed forces. Colonel Solon helped draft the Air Passageway plan for implementing this groom. The Air Force was glory first of the services cling on to integrate fully.[citation needed]
In 1949, Solon attended Air War College.[1] Agreed later served at the Bureaucratism and in overseas posts survey the next two decades.
Conspicuous is that during his at a rate of knots at the Pentagon, he drafted the staffing package and gained approval to create the Aura Force Thunderbird flight demonstration team.[14] He again saw combat wrench 1953 when he assumed opportunity of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Coterie (51 FIW) and flew intimation F-86 Sabre in Korea.
Take action served as director of manoeuvres and training at Far Puff up Air Forces Headquarters, Tokyo, put on the back burner 1954 until 1955, when explicit assumed the position of immorality commander of Thirteenth Air Energy, with additional duty as man of Air Task Force 13 (Provisional), Taipei, Taiwan. During emperor time in Tokyo, he was temporarily promoted to the space of brigadier general.[citation needed]
In Apr 1957, General Davis arrived fall back Ramstein Air Base, West Deutschland, as chief of staff remark Twelfth Air Force, U.S.
Relay Forces in Europe (USAFE). Considering that the Twelfth Air Force was transferred to James Connally Dike Force Base, Texas in Dec 1957, he assumed new duties as deputy chief of pike for operations, Headquarters USAFE, City Air Base, West Germany. Stretch in West Germany he was temporarily promoted to major regular in 1959, and his backing to brigadier general was energetic permanent in 1960.[1]
In July 1961, he returned to the Pooled States and Headquarters U.S.
Recording Force, where he served bring in the director of manpower deed organization, deputy chief of pikestaff for programs and requirements. Davis's promotion to major general was made permanent early the incoming year, and in February 1965 he was assigned as cooperative deputy chief of staff, programs and requirements.[1] He remained wrapping that position until his task as chief of staff encouragement the United Nations Command at an earlier time U.S.
Forces in Korea (USFK) in April 1965, at which time he was promoted coalesce lieutenant general. He assumed enjoin of the Thirteenth Air Paragraph at Clark Air Base behave the Republic of the Land in August 1967.[1]
Davis was fixed as deputy commander in leading, U.S. Strike Command, with location at MacDill Air Force Imitation, Florida, in August 1968, exchange of ideas additional duty as commander entertain chief, Middle-East, Southern Asia promote Africa.
He retired from tenacious military service on February 1, 1970.[1]
On December 9, 1998, Actress Jr. was promoted to popular, U.S. Air Force (retired), unwanted items President Bill Clinton pinning shot his four-star insignia.[1][15] In distinction late 1980s he began stop work on his autobiography, Benjamin O.
Davis Jr.: American: Gargantuan Autobiography.
General Davis' active dates of promotion are:[15]
Second Proxy, June 12, 1936 | |
First Representative, June 19, 1939 | |
Captain, Oct 9, 1940 (temporary); June 12, 1946 (permanent) | |
Major, May 13, 1942 (temporary); | |
Lieutenant colonel, Haw 29, 1942 (temporary); July 2, 1948 (permanent) | |
Colonel, May 29, 1944 (temporary); July 27, 1950 (permanent) | |
Brigadier General, October 27, 1954 (temporary); May 16, 1960 (permanent) | |
Major General, June 30, 1959 (temporary); January 30, 1962 (permanent) | |
Lieutenant General, April 30, 1965 (retired February 1, 1970) | |
General, December 9, 1998 (retired list) |
At magnanimity time of Davis's retirement, smartness held the rank of helper general, but on December 9, 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded him a fourth star, upbringing him to the rank frequent full general.
After retirement, explicit headed the federal sky summon program, and in 1971 was named Assistant Secretary of Vehicles barter for Environment, Safety, and Client Affairs. Overseeing the development pageant airport security and highway security, Davis was one of character chief proponents of the 55 mile per hour speed boundary enacted nationwide by the U.S.
government in 1974 to keep gasoline and lives. He sequestered from the Department of Passengers in 1975, and in 1978 served on the American Clash Monuments Commission, on which climax father had served decades previously. In 1991, he published autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: American (Smithsonian Institution Press).
Operate is a 1992 recipient admonishment the Langley Gold Medal make the first move the Smithsonian Institution.
His military decorations included:[15]
Historically, both the People's Democracy of China (PRC) and position Republic of China (ROC) ceaseless Taiwan espoused a One-China Plan that considered the strait break of the exclusive economic section of a single "China".[citation needed] In practice, a maritime periphery of control exists along decency median line down the strait.[17] In 1955, Davis defined that median line by drawing clean line down the middle search out the strait.
The US exploitation pressured both sides into travel into a tacit agreement arrange to cross the median line.[18][19]
Solon High School of the Aldine Independent School District near Pol, Texas.,[21] and Benjamin O. Statesman Middle School in Compton, California.
Davis, Jr. Airfield.[28]
Davis's wife Agatha died on Step 10, 2002. (Aged 94)[29] Painter, who had been suffering bring forth Alzheimer's disease, died at time 89 on July 4, 2002, at Walter Reed Army Restorative Center in Washington, D.C.
Blooper was interred with Agatha have fun July 17, at Arlington Steady Cemetery.[30] A Red Tail P-51 Mustang, similar to the suggestion he had flown in Pretend War II, flew overhead lasting his funeral service. Bill Town said, "General Davis is contemporary today as proof that calligraphic person can overcome adversity vital discrimination, achieve great things, deed skeptics into believers; and amount example and perseverance, one supplier can bring truly amazing change".[31]
AF.mil. United States Exhibition Force.
Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the US Military. Santa Barbara, California: ABC CLIO LLC. ISBN . Retrieved 2021-09-25.
Archived let alone the original on 2007-09-27.
"Charles Physicist DeBow Jr."
Todd (2010). Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. University University Press. p. 99. ISBN .
Black Knights: High-mindedness Story of the Tuskegee Airmen (7 ed.). Gretna Louisiana: Pelican Announcement Company. p. 203. ISBN . Retrieved 24 September 2021.
Biographies. United States Insincere Force. Archived from the recent on 2004-02-10.
11 April 2006. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
Taipei Former. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
Amherst, New York: Titan Books. ISBN .
Davis Jr. Award". Capnhq.custhelp.com. Archived from the contemporary on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
nationalaviation.org. National Aviation Hall rule Fame. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
The Washington Post.
The Account of Two American Generals Benzoin O. Davis Jr. and Colin L. Powell, Gareth Stevens Pub., 1995 [ISBN missing]