The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-09-18
IS ASSIGNED
TO SELFR|DGE
FIELDS 33RD
Says Anyone Can BE
Proud OF Record Set
BY Negro Flyers

until recently commander or the
famous goth Pursuit Squadron in
North Africa and Sicily. has re-
turned 10 the United States and
has been assigned 10 the 332nd
Fighter group at Selfridge Field
The son OF Brig Gen. Benjamin o
Davis Sr.. 1t Col. Davis has issued
a complete statement covering the
activities OF the goth. the only Nc
gro fighter group to have partici-
pated in the great air offensive
which precipits;cd the fall OF Italy.
The complete text OF his statcmen.
follows:
Il have had The honor and the
pleasure OF commanding the Goth
Fighter Squadron from August y,
1892. until September .. l943 Dur
ing that period saw q pilots ana
250-odd enlisted men develop from
relatively unframed state to a
combat team or which anyone serv-
ing with the organization could
justly be proud. said that had
IllC IAtHShlG ~ NN4ialt4tiAh tAAtS h'fAf
actually that pleasure was real
lied only when Il became apparent
that the goth Fighter Squadron ha6
taken and could maintain its proper
place in the Northwest African
theatre OF operations. Very little
pleasure existed prior TO that time.
ssth An Experiment
"Just what a Negro pilot In n
p-40 would do when anti-aircraft
fire burst about his ship or when
an enemy aircraft was strewing
cannon shells and machine gun
bullets about his cockpit was mat
Ter that was really conjecture in
the minds OF some OF these high
ranking officers in the AAF. The
Doth Fighter Squadron therefore
was an experiment 10 determine
whether the Negro pilot was
physically. mentally and emotion
ely suited 10 the r!sorS az combat
flying !, is vcry significant fact.
] believe. that al members Of this
organization were impressed al AZ
times with tho knowledge that tho
future o, the Negro in the air corps
probably would be depcnden.
Largely upon the manner in which
they Carried ou: their mission
Fcncc. the Importance Of The work
done by this squadron, the rcspon-
eibi,i;y carried by every man be
re ground crcwman or pilot mean.
that very little pleasure was 10 be
had by anyone until tho expert
mcnt was deemed an unqualified
success
The a9th is a unique organization
IN the AAF A large percentage Of
the enlisted corps was specially
recruited from Negro colleges all
over tho United States and sent in
y body 10 Chanu;c FielA foy train
Ing The pilots. while not specially
selected, had the advantage Of going
through all the stages 81 training
with the best instructors, equip
mcnt and facilities that our air
corps could provide Outstanding
Officers OF the air CORPS kept close
and constant touch with the pro-
grams made by pilots ard ground
crews Every effort was made by all
concerned 10 insure that this un.t
would leave the zone o. the interior
equipped with every advantage that
The air corps could provide.
Cites Publicity Effect
I'm the meantime. the squadron
received the attention or the press.
When was the uni, going to tho
combat zone Why tho delay Much
attention was directed toward the
aggregated aspects OF the Tuskegee
eirficld This publicity had a pro-
found effect upon thc individual
member OF the Doth The eyes Of the
nation were upon this organization.
Il vas true that he felt hurt 10
find that his training station at
Tuskcgcc army airficld was being
regarded by some persons outside
The military establishment as being
scriminatorv setup. However,
he had the good sense 10 realize
that tho best means he had 10 dcfca'
the end OF supporters and philoso-
pliers who rclegatcd him to SUBJ
sidiary role in the life Of the United
States was 10 do his job in such a
way that the world would know
that he was capable Of performing
highly specialized and technical
piece OF work in a creditable man
ner
The fact that his unit was an
experiment became challenge to
him, challenge which he an
swered. and one which would set
ND tendencies 20 many things that
were unpleasant TO him and others
of his race. II any single spark could
be credited with the measure OF
success so far achieved by this
squadron. Il is this philosophy
which exists explicitly in the minds
Of this organization, Every man in
the goth will go through any ordeal
eoncocted by combat or garrison
existence 10 assure the successful