Golden Age of Aviation

The real start of African-American participation in the CPTP, and in the Army Air Corps, came as a result of a chance meeting. On May 9, 1939, Dale White and Chauncey Spencer set out on a 3,000-mile round-trip demonstration cross-country flight to promote African-American aviation to the public and to urge Congress to allow more opportunities for African-Americans in the field of aviation.

On a stopover in Washington, D.C., the two men accidentally met Senator Harry Truman. The Senator was unaware that not only were African-Americans excluded from the Air Corps, but also did not figure in the proposed CPTP. This chance meeting led to the intervention of Congress on behalf of African-Americans regarding aviation opportunities.

From it came the activation of the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all-black unit, on March 22, 1941, at Tuskegee Sub Depot, Tuskegee, Alabama. This was the first CPTP for African-Americans, and was also the most well known. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, did a lot to promote equal opportunity for African-Americans in aviation and worked to help make the Tuskegee program a success.

The Tuskegee program was run by Major James Ellison, base commander, and Charles Alfred “Chief’” Anderson, who was the principal flight instructor. A famous airman from Tuskegee was Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., whose father was an Army general. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star in World War II. He also commanded the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron in March 1941 and served in combat in North Africa in 1943. He became commander of the 332nd Fighter Group (“Red Tails”), and was the first African-American to be promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Air Force.

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The 332nd Fighter Group flew more than 15,000 combat sorties and destroyed 260 enemy aircraft. After his retirement from the United States Air Force, Davis became the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Environment, Safety and Commerce.