Gen. Charles McGee, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen passed today at age 102. General McGee flew 409 combat missions during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. A true hero!
Another one of the Greatest Generation has gone ahead. God speed.
If the movie Red Tails got one thing right it was the unquestionable bravery and dedication to the mission, so many crews owe so much to so few.
RIP Sir. Thank you for your service.
He did great things, and made it to 102!
Still he will be missed.
To fly west my friend is a flight we all must make…
My next door neighbor was a Bombardier, B-17’s, flying out of No. Africa and Italy. Name, Jack Barkovic. 52 missions, became an instructor until wars end, left service as a Major.
He was astoundingly clear on details of wartime service, he related the dismal surviveability stats at the beginning. Then the Red Tails began their escort missions, which made an enormous improvement in preventing crew losses.
Jack once said that untold numbers of bomber crews owed their lives to the Tuskegee Airmen. We were having some bourbon, he lifted his glass and said “to you, gentlemen,” then he saluted them.
Thank you, General, I salute you and all of your fellow pilots. Good men indeed.
My first year as a teacher, I had a student whose father said that he worked as a ground crewman for the Tuskegee pilots in Europe. Rest in peace. Thank you for your service to our country.
TJS
“Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.”
- Martha Graham
R.I.P., sir. Thank you for your service to your country and its citizens.
While I never had the opportunity or honor of meeting him, he was an icon for the services. He and his fellow Redtails broke the ceiling for serving at all levels of our military. We are all richer for it.
Rest well my Air Force brother, it is well earned and deserved.