Captain Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. of Washington, D.C. received his wings and became the first African-American officer to fly solo in an Army Air Corps airplane. He and his colleagues at the segregated training program in Tuskagee, AL, formed the 99th Pursuit Squadron.

Davis later commanded the 332d Fighter Group and flew P-47s in Italy. The 332nd had an outstanding record of providing safety, and not one bomber was lost during the time the 332nd provided cover.

Davis also served in Korea and became the first African-American brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force. He had graduated West Point in 1936, 35th out of 276, even though he had no roommate and was socially shunned for four years.

He retired as a lieutenant general in 1970, and served under President Nixon as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Environment, Safety, and Consumer Affairs. In recognition of his outstanding serivce to America, President Clinton re-activated him in 1998 and promoted him to a full, four-star general.

Medium : 1 photographic print

Created/Published : January, 1942.

Part of the Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information Collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of congress

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Product #: beodaclinadt