920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base Marks African-American History Month

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In many places, African American airmen not only had to deal with the prejudices of white commanders and white enlisted personnel but also the prejudices of the people in the local communities. (920th Rescue Wing image)

BREVARD COUNTY • PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, FLORIDA – Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have significantly contributed to the rich heritage and culture of this country in all areas of society.

Since 1976, the United States has celebrated their contributions to the history and heritage of this nation.

This special observance began as “Negro History Week” by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life in 1926. By 1929, 46 of 48 states had distributed literature to their schools through state departments of education.

In February 1969, Kent State University expanded the special celebration to the entire month. In 1976, the U.S. government officially recognized February as Black History Month to honor the accomplishments of African Americans in every area of endeavor throughout American history.

Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have served in all of the U.S. Armed Forces. From the Civil War to the present, more than 85 African Americans have received Medals of Honor for their heroic service in combat or peacetime.

During World War II, about 2.5 million African Americans registered with Selective Service, and, of these, 1. 2 million served in all U.S. military. Perhaps, the most famous African-American unit of World War II was the 332nd Fighter Group, manned by the Tuskegee Airmen.

The first African American squadron of the U.S. Army Air Forces, the 99th Fighter Squadron, activated on March 22, 1941, at Chanute Field, Illinois, entered combat in North Africa in June 1943.

By May 1945, the Group, now consisting of the 99th, 100th, 301st and the 302nd Fighter Squadrons, had established an outstanding combat record.

By September 1945, the Army Air Forces (AAF) had about 152,000 African-Americans in various units, all segregated. In addition to the 14,600 of the 332nd Fighter Group, about 38,400 served in aviation engineer battalions which constructed airfields on numerous islands across the Pacific as U.S. forces advanced toward Japan.

Then-Col. Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. stands in front of his McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom in Thailand during the Vietnam War. He’s the first African-American in U.S. military history to be promoted to “four-star” general rank (920th Rescue Wing image)

Another 100,000 served in over 250 aviation squadrons, which provided various administrative and labor services on AAF installations in the Continental United States.

Because the U.S. Armed Forces were segregated during World War II, African American pilots and ground support enlisted members were trained in segregated facilities.

For example, after the AAF activated the 99th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron in March 1941, the squadron’s ground element transferred to Maxwell Field, Alabama, from November 5 to November 9, 1941 on its way to Tuskegee, Alabama, where the AAF had begun construction of several airfields and three flight schools to train African American combat pilots.

These flight schools under the Southeast Air Corps Training Center (later Eastern Flying Training Command), headquartered at Maxell Field, had graduated almost 1,000 pilots by the war’s end.

In many places, African American airmen not only had to deal with the prejudices of white commanders and white enlisted personnel but also the prejudices of the people in the local communities.

In general, AAF installation commanders, including those at Maxwell and Gunter Fields, worked with local community leaders to protect the civil rights of the African American airmen assigned to these installations and ameliorate the problems of off-installation segregation policies.

Although some people at the start of the war had severe reservations about the use of African Americans in the AAF, especially as combat pilots, the African-American men and women who had served in the AAF during the war performed well in leadership as well as technical and service positions.

In addition, their generally excellent performance during the war demonstrated the illogic and inefficiency of the wartime segregation policies.

After 1945, these policies, racial prejudices of some white base commanders, and few promotion and career field opportunities for African-Americans in the military produced several base disorders. Investigators squarely placed the underlying cause of the disorders on the military’s segregation policy.

As a result, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 in July 1948, integrating the U.S. military services.

Prominent African American military individuals include Army Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, Sr.; his son Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a Tuskegee Airman and the first U.S. Air Force general officer; General Daniel “Chappie” James, who became the first Air Force four-star general; Army General Colin L. Powell, who became the first and only African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Chief Master Sergeant Thomas N. Barnes, the first and only African American Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have significantly contributed to the rich heritage and culture of this country in all areas of society. (920th Rescue Wing image)

Here are a few important facts and advances made throughout U.S. history by African-Americans:

Feb. 12, 2009: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People marks its 100th anniversary. February 12 was selected as its the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

Feb. 27, 1988: Figure skater Debbie Thomas becomes the first African-American to win a medal at the U.S. Winter Olympics.

Feb. 10, 1964: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed making it illegal for state or local gov’t or public facilities to deny access to anyone because of ethnic origin or race. It also made segregation in schools illegal.

Feb. 28, 1932: Richard Spikes invents and patents the automatic gear shift.

Feb. 7, 1926: Negro History Week is observed for the first time.

Feb. 1, 1926: The celebration of Black History Month, previously as “Negro History Week,” was created by Carter G. Woodson, noted African-American historian, scholar, educator and publisher.

Feb. 13, 1923: The first African-American pro-basketball team is organized. It’s named “The Renaissance.

Feb. 11, 1920: Air Force Gen. Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. is born. The American-fighter pilot is the African-American to be promoted to “four-star” general in the U.S. armed forces.

Feb. 4, 1913: Rosa Parks, born Rosa Louise McCauley, is born.

Feb 25, 1870: The first African-American U.S. senator, Hiram Revels, takes the oath of office.

Feb. 3, 1870: The 15th Amendment is passed, granting black citizens the right to vote.

Feb. 23, 1868: W.E.B. DuBois, important civil rights leader and co-founder of the NAACP, is born.

Feb. 6, 1867: Robert Tanner Jackson becomes the first African-American in the U.S. to receive a degree in dentistry.

920th Rescue Wing Maj. Chris Ferrara Led Life-Saving Refueling Effort From Patrick Air Force BaseRelated Story:
920th Rescue Wing Maj. Chris Ferrara Led Life-Saving Refueling Effort From Patrick Air Force Base

Other African-American “fun facts”

  • Garrett Augustus Morgan invents a smoke hood in 1916, which is later refined by the Army into the gas mask. He also invents an early version of a traffic signal featuring automated stop-and-go signs.
  • Autherine Lucy becomes the first African-American student at the University of Alabama in February 1956.
  • The oldest African-American sorority is the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The first Black Greek sisterhood is founded in 1908 at Howard University by Ethel Hedgeman-Lyle.
  • African-American inventor A.W. Martin creates the door lock.
  • Sojourner Truth’s real name is Isabella Baumfree.
  • Barack Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected U.S. president in 2008.

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