Pilot considered the only ace Tuskegee Airman dies

[babylonsister]

Pilot considered the only ace Tuskegee Airman dies

By VIRGINIA BYRNE
The Associated Press
Thursday, January 28, 2010; 11:50 PM


NEW YORK -- Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Lee A. Archer, a Tuskegee Airman considered to be the only black ace pilot who also broke racial barriers as an executive at a major U.S. company and founder of a venture capital firm, died Wednesday in New York City. He was 90.

His son, Roy Archer, said his father died at Cornell University Medical Center in Manhattan. A cause of death was not immediately determined.

The Tuskegee Airmen were America's first black fighter pilot group in World War II.

"It is generally conceded that Lee Archer was the first and only black ace pilot," credited with shooting down five enemy planes, Dr. Roscoe Brown Jr., a fellow Tuskegee Airman and friend, said in a telephone interview Thursday.

Archer was acknowledged to have shot down four planes, and he and another pilot both claimed victory for shooting down a fifth plane. An investigation revealed Archer had inflicted the damage that destroyed the plane, said Brown, and the Air Force eventually proclaimed him an ace pilot.

Archer, a resident of New Rochelle, N.Y., "lived a full life," said his son. "His last two or three years were amazing for him."

Archer was among the group of Tuskegee Airmen invited to attend President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. The airmen, who escorted bomber planes during the war fought with distinction, only to face bigotry and segregation when they returned home, were also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their service in 2007 by President George W. Bush.

more...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012804678.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[old mark]

1. They faced terrible prejudice even when in the military - they actually had to

prove themselves every step of the way through training till they were finally allowed to go into combat. There, they proved themselves many times over.

Please see the link: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=15471

They fought so well, and set so many high marks for air escort flying that their service opened the door for President Truman to de-segregate the US armed forces.

They were brave, intelligent men and proud Americans.

mark

[eShirl]

2. salute to an amazing man who lived a long, full life

:patriot:

[Vidar]

3. A true khight of the sky.. Fly on, Col. Archer.

[postulater]

4. Brave men, all of them. And true American heroes.

RIP

[Captain Hilts]

5. They rocked. nt

[Froward69]

6. ...

:patriot: :cry: :patriot: :cry: :patriot: