Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, January 21, 2022

102-year-old Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee dies

by Douglass K. Daniel at Tuskegee from 1940 to 1946. About
Associated Press 450 deployed overseas and 150 lost
their lives in training or combat.
Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Air- In recent years the Tuskegee Air-
man who flew 409 fighter combat men have been the subject of books,
missions over three wars and later movies and documentaries highlight-
helped to bring attention to the Black ing their courage in the air and the
pilots who had battled racism at home doubts they faced on the ground be-
to fight for freecome abroad, died Jan. cause of their race. In 2007 a Congres-
16. He was 102. sional Gold Medal, the highest civil-
McGee died in his sleep at his home ian award from Congress, was issued
in Bethesda, Md., said his son, Ron to recognize their “unique military
McGee. record that inspired revolutionary re-
After the U.S. entry into World form in the Armed Forces.”
War II, McGee left the University McGee remained in the Army Air
of Illinois to join an experimental Corps, later the U.S. Air Force, and
program for Black soldiers seeking served for 30 years. He flew low-level
to train as pilots after the Army Air bombing and strafing missions during
Corps was forced to admit African the Korean War and returned to com-
Americans. In October 1942 he was bat again during the Vietnam War. The
sent to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in National Aviation Hall of Fame says
Alabama for flight training, according his 409 aerial fighter combat missions
to his biography on the website of the in three wars remains a record.
National Aviation Hall of Fame. He retired as a colonel in the Air
“You could say that one of the Force in 1973, then earned a college Courtesy photograph
things we were fighting for was equal- degree in business administration and Charles McGee
ity,” he told The Associated Press in a worked as a business executive. He
1995 interview. “Equality of opportu- was accorded an honorary commission Trump during his State of the Union Airmen certainly proved men like him “While I am saddened by his loss,
nity. We knew we had the same skills, promoting him to the one-star rank of address. wrong.” I’m also incredibly grateful for his
or better.” brigadier general as he turned 100. In addition to encouraging young Charles Edward McGee was born sacrifice, his legacy, and his character.
men and women to pursue careers in Dec. 7, 1919, in Cleveland, the son Rest in peace, General,” Austin wrote.
aviation, McGee was a source of in- of a minister who also worked as a In his Smithsonian essay, McGee
“While I am saddened by his loss, I’m also formation about the Tuskegee Airmen teacher and social worker and was a wrote that he was often asked why
incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy, and offered a unique perspective on military chaplain. He graduated from the Tuskegee Airmen were so success-
race relations of the era through the
high school in Chicago in 1938.
and his character. Rest in peace, General.” airmen’s nonprofit educational orga- lene McGee Smith and Yvonne Mc- ful in combat.
Survivors include daughters Char-
“I would say it was because of our
nization.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III “At the time of the war, the idea Gee, 10 grandchildren, 14 great- courage and perseverance,” he wrote.
of an all African American flight grandchildren and a great-great grand- “We dreamed of being pilots as boys
squadron was radical and offensive child. His wife of more than 50 years, but were told it was not possible.
to many,” McGee wrote in an essay Frances, died in 1994. Through faith and determination we
for the Smithsonian National Air and A family statement described Mc- overcame enormous obstacles. This
McGee graduated from flight school Another event marked his centennial Space Museum. Gee as “a living legend known for his
in June 1943 and in early 1944 joined year: He flew a private jet between “The prevailing opinion was that kind-hearted and humble nature, who is a lesson that all young people need
the all-Black 332nd Fighter Group, Frederick, Md., and Dover Air Force blacks did not possess the intelligence saw positivity at every turn.” to hear.”
known as the “Red Tails.” He flew Base in Delaware. or courage to be military pilots. One In tweets honoring McGee, both He added: “I am most proud of
136 missions as the group accompa- In 2020, McGee drew a standing general even wrote, `The Negro type Vice President Kamala Harris and my work as a Tuskegee Airman that
nied bombers over Europe. ovation from members of Congress has not the proper reflexes to make a Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III helped bring down racial barriers and
More than 900 men trained when introduced by President Donald first-rate fighter pilot.” The Tuskegee called him an American hero. defeat the Nazis.”

Air Force photograph by Sean M. Worrell
Retired Tuskegee Airman Brig. Gen. Charles McGee is presented with a birthday cake in celebration of his 102nd
birthday Dec. 6, 2021, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Courtesy photograph

January 21, 2022 Aerotech News and Review 3
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