*George S. Roberts was born on this date in 1918. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer and fighter pilot. George S “Spanky” Roberts was born in London, West Virginia, and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia. He was the son of Spencer Roberts and Estella Roberts. In 1934 Roberts graduated from Dunbar School […]
learn more*Charles DeBow was born on this date in 1918. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot, and teacher. Charles DeBow was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Charles Henry DeBow of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Anna Sue Horne DeBow of Tennessee. DeBow’s parents moved from Tennessee to Indianapolis […]
learn more*Abbie Voorhies was born on this date in 1915. She was a Black nurse and military officer. Abbie Edith Voorhies was born in Louisiana and graduated from Kansas City General Hospital Nursing School in Missouri. Her first job was with Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. She said she joined the military after hearing that […]
learn more*Mac Ross was born on this date in 1912. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot. Mac Ross was born in rural Dallas County near Selma, Alabama, the son of Eddie Samuel “Sam” Ross and Willie B. Collins Ross. He had eight siblings: Eddie, Sammy, Jerry, Arthur, Suritha, Geniva, […]
learn more*Lemuel Custis was born on this date in 1915. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer, combat fighter pilot, Squadron Operations, and police officer. Lemuel Curtis was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, as the only child of Mary C. Goodwin Custis and Charles Custis. Lemuel Rodney Custis attended Hartford’s public schools, graduating from its […]
learn more*Alfonza W. Davis was born on this date in 1919. He was a Black U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot. Davis was born in Pensacola, Florida, and after his mother died in 1920, he moved with his father and brother to North Omaha, Nebraska. Davis graduated valedictorian from Omaha’s Technical High School […]
learn more*The 332d Fighter Group was activated on this date in 1942. The 332d is a provisional air expeditionary group of the United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command. This Fighter Group was predominantly staffed by Black personnel and was home to the Tuskegee Airmen. The United States entered World War II with a military that […]
learn more*On this date, in 1863, the 7th United States Colored Infantry was formed. This an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of African American enlisted men commanded by white officers. It was authorized by the Bureau of Colored Troops, which the United States War […]
learn more*Frederick Tillis was born on this date in 1930. He was a Black composer, jazz saxophonist, poet, and collegiate music educator. Born in Galveston, Texas, Frederick Charles Tillis was raised by his mother, Zelma Bernice Gardner Tillis, his stepfather, General Gardner, and his maternal grandparents, Willie Tillis and Jessie Tillis-Hubbard. His mother played piano and […]
learn more*Kermit Moore was born on this date in 1929. He was a Black conductor, cellist, and composer. Moore was born in Akron, Ohio. While still in high school, he studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In Manhattan, he studied the cello with Felix Salmond at the Juilliard School while simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree […]
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