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Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr.(December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was an American United States Air Force general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen.He was the first African-Americangeneral officer in the United States Air Force. On December 9, 1998, he was advanced to four-star general by President Bill Clinton. During World War II, Davis was commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group, which escorted bombers on air combat missions over Europe. Davis himself flew sixty missions in P-39, Curtiss P-40, P-47 and P-51 Mustang fighters. Davis followed in his father's footsteps in breaking racial barriers, as Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was the first African-American general in the United States Army.
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. - Wikipedia
Posted from en.wikipedia.org
Birthday
Pilot
WWII World War Two
American History
Heroes
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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Maj Marty Hogan, I've placed this post on numerous similar threads about the Tuskegee Airmen and Moton Field, but I thought you might like to see it also.
While in college, we skydived at Moton Field, Tuskegee, AL (home of the Tuskegee Airmen) all the time. The place was in ruins, but for the runway. Interestingly enough, it was General Davis that got the magnificent 5,005' runway built there (c. 1973) as well as getting a VOR in place at Moton. It's since been placed on the National Historic Registry, restored and made into a museum. I went by to see it on 4MAR15, and these are my photos from that day. It's a spectacular place to visit. SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack Cardwell SGT Jim Ramge, MBA PO3 Phyllis Maynard
While in college, we skydived at Moton Field, Tuskegee, AL (home of the Tuskegee Airmen) all the time. The place was in ruins, but for the runway. Interestingly enough, it was General Davis that got the magnificent 5,005' runway built there (c. 1973) as well as getting a VOR in place at Moton. It's since been placed on the National Historic Registry, restored and made into a museum. I went by to see it on 4MAR15, and these are my photos from that day. It's a spectacular place to visit. SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CW5 Jack Cardwell SGT Jim Ramge, MBA PO3 Phyllis Maynard
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SGT Jim Ramge, MBA
Thank you for the add here Stephen... Next time we’re down that way, will have to stop in! The kids love the U.S. Air Museums!
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
Thank you for the additional information on General Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
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Maj Marty Hogan
Very interested LTC Stephen C. great addition to the post. I always like seeing these old stomping grounds.
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Thanks Maj Marty Hogan for letting us know that December 18 is the anniversary of the birth of World War II commander of the U.S.-Army-Air-Corps 88th Pursuit Squadron [Tuskegee Airmen] Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. who rose through the ranks to become a United States Air Force 4-Star General.
He graduated in the USMA Class of 1936 as graduate number 10,494. He was awarded the Silver Star for valor during WWII;
Images: 1933 Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. and Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.; 1944 Benjamin O. Davis Jr..jpg
World War II- Red Tail Ceremony with Benjamin O. Davis Senior
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell
He graduated in the USMA Class of 1936 as graduate number 10,494. He was awarded the Silver Star for valor during WWII;
Images: 1933 Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. and Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.; 1944 Benjamin O. Davis Jr..jpg
World War II- Red Tail Ceremony with Benjamin O. Davis Senior
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 (Join to see) SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT MSG Andrew White SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Cpl Joshua Caldwell
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LTC Stephen F.
World War II- Red Tail Ceremony with Benjamin O. Davis Senior
Lt. Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. led the 99th Pursuit Squadron. He was the first black officer to solo an Army Air Corp aircraft. He and other airmen are d...
Here is HD Stock Footage WWII Tuskegee Black Fighter Squadron
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17BBc994DTU
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SPC Margaret Higgins Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGT Gregory Lawritson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17BBc994DTU
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Christopher Mueller Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSgt (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell SGT Robert George SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright SPC Margaret Higgins Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM SGT Gregory Lawritson
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When You look at Benjamin Davis as the only black cadet at West point and despite the discrimination was in the top 1/3rd of the class. His role in proving the value of His Men in combat and having the backbone to stand up for Himself and His men. The leadership displayed by Him constantly. He wasn't a man not to follow up on anything and didn't know the meaning of the word can't or defeat. I don't know if I could have survived the challenges He was faced with only because of His race and nothing else. I have a great deal of admiration for General Davis and someone in the History of the United States Air Force We can all be proud of.
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