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Congress passes a Selective Service Act, which requires all armed services to enlist black men. On the same day, the War Department announces that the Civil Aeronautics Authority, in cooperation with the U.S. Army, will start the development of "colored personnel" for the aviation service.
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The War Department announces plans to create a "Negro pursuit squadron" whose pilots will be trained at Tuskegee, Ala.
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The 99th Pursuit Squadron is constituted. Three days later, the unit of black enlisted men was activated at Chanute Field, Ill., under Capt. Harold R. Maddux, a white officer.
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First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visits Kennedy Field in the Tuskegee area and is taken up in a plane piloted by Charles Alfred "Chief" Anderson, Tuskegee Institute's chief instructor pilot. “She told me, ‘I always heard Negroes couldn’t fly and I wondered if you’d mind taking me up’.... When we came back, she said, ‘Well, you can fly all right,' " Anderson later said. A Rosenwald Fund trustee, the first lady helped secure financing for the construction of Moton Field at Tuskegee.
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The War Department approves a contract to establish a primary flying school at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala.
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President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive Order 8802, which prohibits racial discrimination in the national defense industry. It is the first federal law to promote equal opportunity and prohibit employment discrimination in the United States.
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The first class of aviation cadets, class 42-C, enters preflight training at Tuskegee Institute. The class includes Capt. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who served as commandant of cadets. Twelve cadets serve with him under Capt. Noel F. Parrish, a white officer, and 2nd Lt. Harold C. Magoon, another white officer, who served as the adjutant. The class enters the first phase of military flight training (primary) on Aug. 21 at Kennedy Field near Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.
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The first class of aviation cadets enter the esecond phase of military flight training (basic) at Tuskegee Army Air Feild under military instructors. Only seven of the original 13 cadets remain.
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The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing 2,402 and wounding 1,282 Americans. The USS Arizona, left, belched smoke as it toppled over into the sea during the surprise attack. The U.S. entered World War II the following day, and the need for combat pilots skyrocketed. <a href="http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=21511195&event=650039&CategoryID=38578&picnum=6&move=B#Image" target="_blank">See more photos from the Pearl Harbor attack.</a>
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The 100th Pursuit Squadron is constituted. Learn more about the 100th
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Five aviation cadets at Tuskegee enter advanced flying training with P-40 Warhawks. The cadets soon deploy to Eglin Field, Fla., for gunnery practice. Learn more about the P-40
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The first class of black pilots completes advanced pilot training. Five men complete the training (left to right): Capt. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., 2nd Lt. Lemuel R. Custis, 2nd Lt. George S. Roberts, 2nd Lt. Charles DeBow and 2nd Lt. Mac Ross. Davis is assigned to the base, and the other four pilots become the first black flying officers of the 99th Pursuit Squadron.
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The 99th Pursuit Squadron is redesignated the 99th Fighter Squadron, and the 100th Pursuit Squadron is redesignated the 100th Fighter Squadron.
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1st Lt. George S. Roberts assumes command of the 99th Fighter Squadron. He is the first black man to command the squadron.
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The 332nd Fighter Group is constituted. The 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons also are constituted for eventual assignment to the group. Learn more about the 301st
Learn more about the 302nd -
Class 42-G graduates, putting the squadron at full strength with 33 pilots. Class 42-G: Richard Davis, Willie Fuller, Cassius Harris, Earl E. King, Walter E. Lawson, John H. McClure, Leon C. Roberts and John W. Roberts
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Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. becomes commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron, replacing 1st Lt. George S. Roberts.
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After further gunnery training at Elgin and Dale Mabry Fields in Florida, the squadron returns to Tuskegee and is declared ready for combat. Its planned deployment to defend Liberia is indefinitely delayed because of the diminished enemy threat to that country.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron is deployed from Tuskegee Army Air Field. On April 16, the squadron sails on the steamship Mariposa from New York harbor, bound for Africa. The squadron arrives in Casablanca, French Morocco, its first overseas base, on April 24 and begins serving the 12th Air Force.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron moves to Oued N'ja, French Morocco, where it engages in maneuvers and prepares for combat.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron is assigned to the XII Air Support (later, XII Tactical Air) Command. The next day, the squadron is attached to the 33nd Fighter Group.
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In its first combat mission, the 99th Fighter Squadron flies P-40 Warhawks over the Mediterranean Sea. On June 7, the 99th moves to Fardjouna, Tunisia, and takes part in air raids on the island of Pantelleria. Enemy forces on Pantelleria surrender on June 11, paving the way for the Allied invasion of Sicily.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron is attached to the 324th Fighter Group and begins flying escort missions between Tunisia and Sicily. In June/July, the 99th earns the first of three World War II Distinguished Unit Citations. The unit provides air support for Allied landing operations and Allied offensives on Sicily. The 324th Fighter Group, to which the 99th was attached, also earned the award.
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While escorting B-25 bombers on a raid on Castelvetrano, Italy, 1st Lt. Charles B. Hall, left, earns an aerial victory credit by shooting down an FW-190 enemy plane. The same day, 1st Lt. Sherman H. White Jr. and 2nd Lt. James L. McCullin are killed in combat. Learn more about Lt. James L. McCullin
Learn more about Lt. Sherman H. White Jr. -
The 99th Fighter Squadron is attached again to the 33rd Fighter Group. It provides cover for Allied shipping in the Mediterranean Sea and air support for the 7th Army. On July 28, the squadron moves from Tunisia in North Africa to Licata, Sicily, Italy.
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Maj. George S. Roberts replaces Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis as commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron. Davis begins a return trip to the United States to assume command of the 332nd Fighter Group. The squadron moves to Termini, Sicily, on Sept. 4, then to Barcelona, Spain, on Sept. 17.
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The Army Air Forces recommends that the 99th Fighter Squadron be moved to a rear defense area. President Franklin D. Roosevelt does not approve the recommendation. On Oct. 16, Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. testifies before the War Department's Advisory Committee on Negro Troop Policies. He defends the record of the squadron, noting the shortage of replacement pilots. The War Department leaves the squadron in combat.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron is attached to the 79th Fighter Group. The next day, the squadron moves to Foggia, Italy, where it provides close air support for Allied ground troops and attacks surface targets, such as ammunition dumps and enemy shipping.
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The 99th moves to Madna, Italy. On Nov. 30 and 31, the squadron attacks ground targets in support of Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery's crossing of the Sangro River in Italy.
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While flying cover for American ground troops at Anzio, Italy, 10 members of the 99th shoot down 10 enemy airplanes that were dive-bombing Allied ships. Victors include: 2nd Lt. Clarence W. Allen, 1st Lt. Willie Ashley Jr., 2nd Lt. Charles P. Bailey, 1st Lt. Howard Baugh, Capt. Lemuel R. Custis, 1st Lt. Robert W. Deiz, 2nd Lt. Wilson V. Eagleson, 1st Lt. Leon C. Roberts, 2nd Lt. Lewis C. Smith and 1st Lt. Edward L. Toppins. All of the downed enemy planes were FW-190s.
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Capt. Charles B. Hall and Lt. Robert W. Deiz shoot down three enemy planes that were threatening American ground forces at Anzio.
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Lt. Elwood T. Driver shoots down one enemy plane.
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1st Lt. Clinton B. Mills, 2nd Lt. Wilson V. Eagleson and 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Jackson shoot down three enemy planes.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron is again attached to the 324th Fighter Group. The squadron moves to Cercola, Italy, the next day.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron is assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, but remains attached to the 324th Fighter Group for combat operations. On May 10, the squadron moves to Pignataro, Italy.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron earns its second Distinguished Unit Citation for missions over Cassino, Italy. It shares the honor with the 324th Fighter Group, to which it was attached.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron flies its 500th combat mission of the war.
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The squadron moves to Ciampino, Italy, and is attached to the 86th Fighter Group, but remains assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group. On June 17, the squadron moves to Orbetello, Italy.
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The squadron's emblem is approved. It features a gold-winged diving panther on a blue disk witha background of nine stars.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron begins to arrive at Ramitelli Air Field in Italy, where the 332nd Fighter Group is already based. The squadron flies its first combat mission with the 332nd on July 15. On July 8, the 99th receives its first P-51 Mustang -- far superior to the P-40s it had been flying. Learn more about the P-51
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1st Lt. Alfonza W. Davis shoots down an emeny plane during a fighter sweep of the Vienna area of Austria.
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Capt. Edward L. Toppins and 1st Lt. Chales P. Bailey each shoot down one enemy plane during an escort mission to Memmingen, Germany. In all, the 332nd Fighter Group shoot down 12 enemy planes; some of the escorted B-17s are shot down by enemy planes.
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Capt. Edward L. Toppins shoots down an enemy plane during an escort mission to Friedrichshafen, Germany. The 332nd Fighter Group shot down four enemy planes; two of the escorted B-24 bombers were shot down by enemy planes.
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Capt. Edward L. Toppins and 1st Lt. Leonard M. Jackson each shoot down an enemy plane during an escort mission to Markendorf Airdrome. It is the fourth aerial victory credit for Toppins. In all, the 332nd Fighter Group shot down four enemy planes.
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1st Lt. Leonard M. Jackson shoots down an enemy plane during an escort mission in the Budapest area of Hungary. In all, the 332nd Fighter Group shot down eight enemy planes.
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The 332nd Fighter Group attacks airfields in Czechoslovakia and destroy 22 enemy aircraft on the ground while returning from a mission to Blechhammer, Germany. On Aug. 30, the group destroys 83 enemy planes on the ground during a strafing mission at Grosswardein Airdrome in Romania. On Sept. 8, the group destroys 36 enemy planes on the ground during strafing missions to two airfields in Yugoslavia.
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Maj. George S. Roberts becomes commander of the 332nd Fighter Group, temporarily replacing Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., who returned Dec. 24 to command the group.
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The 332nd Fighter Group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its work on an escort mission to Berlin, Germany. It is the 99th Fighter Squadron's third citation. Learn more about the Distinguished Unit Citation
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Maj. William A. Campbell, 1st Lt. Daniel L. Rich, 2nd Lt. Thomas P. Brasswell, 2nd Lt. John W. Davis, 2nd Lt. James L. Hall and 2nd Lt. Hugh J. White each shot down an enemy plane during a fighter sweep of the Munich, Germany, area. In all, the 332nd Fighter Group shot down 13 enemy planes.
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The 33nd Fighter Group flies its last mission of World War II. In early May, the 99th Fighter Squadron moves to Cattolica, Italy.
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Maj. William A. Campbell is awarded the first oak leaf cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross, becoming the first black pilot to earn two Distinguished Flying Crosses
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The 99th Fighter Squadron moves to Godman Field, Ky., and is assigned to the 477th Composite Group, which is renamed and redesignated from the 477th Bombardment Group. Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. assumed command of the group the day before.
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The 99th Fighter Squadron moves to Lockbourne Army Air Base, Ohio, with the 477th Composite Group.
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The last class of pilots graduate at Tuskegee Army Air Field.
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The 332nd Fighter Group is reactivated at Lockbourne, Ohio, and the 99th Fighter Squadron is assigned to the group. On July 28, the 332nd Fighter Wing is established. It is activated on Aug. 15 under the command of Maj. Edward C. Gleed at Lockbourne Army Air Base, Ohio. The 332nd Fighter Group is assigned to the new wing.
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President Harry S. Truman signs Executive Order 9981, officially ending segregation in the U.S. armed forces.
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The 332nd Fighter Group and its squadrons are inactivated. Members are reassigned to other organizations, which are racially integrated.
