Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.: Courageous Tuskegee Airman

“The privileges of being an American belong to those brave enough to fight for them.”

Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Tuskegee Airman

Born on December 18, 1912, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. – the son of an Army officer who would become the first African-American brigadier general in US history – grew up in Washington, DC, excelled in school, and by the time he was a teenager was following in his father’s footsteps.

Graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1936, he completed US Army Infantry School and was assigned to the 24th Infantry Regiment. But Davis wanted more. Since childhood he had dreamed of being a pilot.

In 1941, with the War Department’s creation of the first all-black flying unit, he got his wish. After completing flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, he earned his wings, became the commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, and led his men in combat missions over North Africa and Italy.

Throughout WWII, Davis, who went on to become the commander of the 332nd Fighter Group, aka the “Tuskegee Airmen,” repeatedly distinguished himself as a courageous pilot and leader.

During his time in the cockpit of P-40, P-47, and P-51 fighters, he completed 200 combat missions, was awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross, and became a US Army Air Force legend.

In one particularly harrowing mission, he was attacked by nearly 100 enemy fighters. Outnumbered and outgunned but determined to protect the bombers under his care, Davis successfully “led an attack against more than fifteen enemy fighters” and deployed his planes “so skillfully that in spite of the large number of enemy fighters,” the mission was successful.

For “his aggressive spirit and determined leadership that caused his men to rout the enemy fighters and emerge with five victories [kills],” Davis was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“We would go through any ordeal that came our way, be it in garrison existence or combat, to prove our worth,” Davis later said of his fellow Tuskegee Airmen.

Postscript:

Davis went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam and become the first African-American to earn the rank of general in the US Air Force, retiring in 1970 with 34 years of service.

He died on July 4, 2002, at the age of 89, only four months after his wife of 66 years, Agatha, died. The couple had no children.

“He was my hero,” a fellow Tuskegee Airman said about his former commander. Davis was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Fifteen years later, on November 1, 2019, the United States Air Force Academy airfield was renamed airfield Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Airfield, in honor of the legendary pilot.

Today we pay tribute to Benjamin Davis, his family, and all the Tuskegee Airmen who served, sacrificed, and died during WWII. We will never forget you!