Biography Benjamin O. Davis Jr.

captain benjamin oliver davis jr. of washington, d.c., climbing advanced trainer. tuskegee, alabama. january 1942

early in 1941, roosevelt administration, in response public pressure greater black participation in military war approached, ordered war department create black flying unit. captain davis assigned first training class @ tuskegee army air field (hence name tuskegee airmen), , in march 1942 earned wings 1 of 5 black officers complete course. first black officer solo army air corps aircraft.

letter dr. o. a. childress of cleveland, ohio, chairman of civil liberties committee of mi-ty majestic lodge of elks no. 934, president franklin delano roosevelt, commending appointment of benjamin o. davis brigadier general. record group 319: records of army staff, 1903 - 2009 series: official military personnel files, 1912 - 1998 file unit: official military personnel file of benjamin o. davis item: letter dr. o. a. childress of cleveland, ohio, chairman of civil liberties committee of mi-ty majestic lodge of elks no. 934, president franklin delano roosevelt., 11/4/1940

in july year, having been promoted lieutenant colonel, named commander of first all-black air unit, 99th pursuit squadron.

the squadron, equipped curtiss p-40 fighters, sent tunisia in north africa in spring of 1943. on june 2, saw combat first time in dive-bombing mission against german-held island of pantelleria part of operation corkscrew. squadron later supported allied invasion of sicily.

in september 1943, davis deployed united states take command of 332nd fighter group, larger all-black unit preparing go overseas. after arrival, there attempt stop use of black pilots in combat. senior officers in army air forces recommended army chief of staff, general george marshall, 99th (davis s old unit) removed combat operations had performed poorly. infuriated davis had never been told of deficiencies unit. held news conference @ pentagon defend men , presented case war department committee studying use of black servicemen.

marshall ordered inquiry allowed 99th continue fighting in meantime. inquiry reported 99th s performance comparable other air units, questions squadron s fitness answered in january 1944 when pilots shot down 12 german planes in 2 days while protecting anzio beachhead.

colonel davis standing near nose of p-47 thunderbolt, 1944

colonel davis , 332d fighter group arrived in italy after that. four-squadron group, called red tails distinctive markings of planes, based @ ramitelli airfield , flew many missions deep german territory. summer 1944 group had transitioned p-47 thunderbolts. in summer of 1945, davis took on all-black 477th bombardment group, stationed @ godman field, kentucky.

during war, airmen commanded davis had compiled outstanding record in combat against luftwaffe. flew more 15,000 sorties, shot down 111 enemy planes, , destroyed or damaged 273 on ground @ cost of 66 of own planes , losing twenty-five bombers. davis himself led dozens of missions in p-47 thunderbolts , p-51 mustangs. received silver star strafing run austria , distinguished flying cross bomber-escort mission munich on june 9, 1944.

colonel davis, commander of 51st fiw, leads formation of f-86f sabres during korean war, 1953

in july 1948, president harry s. truman signed executive order 9981 ordering racial integration of armed forces. colonel davis helped draft air force plan implementing order. air force first of services integrate fully.

davis served @ pentagon , in overseas posts on next 2 decades. again saw combat in 1953 when assumed command of 51st fighter-interceptor wing (51 fiw) , flew f-86 sabre in korea. served director of operations , training @ far east air forces headquarters, tokyo, 1954 until 1955, when assumed position of vice commander, thirteenth air force (13 af), additional duty commander, air task force 13 (provisional), taipei, taiwan. during time in tokyo temporarily promoted rank of brigadier general.

in april 1957 general davis arrived @ ramstein air base, germany, chief of staff of twelfth air force (12 af), u.s. air forces in europe (usafe). when twelfth air force transferred james connally air force base, texas in december 1957, assumed new duties deputy chief of staff operations, headquarters u.s. air forces in europe (usafe), wiesbaden air base, germany. while in germany temporarily promoted major general in 1959, , promotion brigadier general made permanent in 1960.

in july 1961, returned united states , headquarters u.s. air force served director of manpower , organization, deputy chief of staff programs , requirements, having promotion major general made permanent next year; , in february 1965 assigned assistant deputy chief of staff, programs , requirements. remained in position until assignment chief of staff united nations command , u.s. forces in korea (usfk) in april 1965, @ time promoted lieutenant general. assumed command of thirteenth air force (13 af) @ clark air base in republic of philippines in august 1967.

davis assigned deputy commander in chief, u.s. strike command, headquarters @ macdill air force base, florida, in august 1968, additional duty commander in chief, middle-east, southern asia , africa. retired active military service on february 1, 1970.

on december 9, 1998, davis jr. promoted general, u.s. air force (retired), president bill clinton pinning on four-star insignia.