The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-19
THOMAS YOUNG
tAUDS FEATS Of
FAMOUS FLYERS

TUSkEGEE ARMY AIR FIELD,
Ala-Psying Csn eloquent tribute
10 the aerial feats Of the famous
goth Fighter Squadron now on
active duty on the European fight
ing front. Thomas w. Young. noted
Negro war correspondent. addressed
the graduating classes OF single and
twin engine pilots at the Tuskegee
Army Air Field last Tuesday, Feb 8.
The former 99ih correspondent,
who was on hand h witness the
initial triumph OF the alI-Negro
fighter squadron. told his audience,
which filled the post chapel 10
capacity that as the goth is the only
squadron entirely trained for COM
bat at the Tuskegee Army Air Field.
their future as we'll as their past
achievements in aerial combat will
always be regarded as reflection
on the Tuskegee base.
Splicing his speech with his scin.
tillating wit, Mr. Young. who repre-
sented the Journal and Guide OF
Norfolk, Va, while reporting the
activities OF the goth in North Africa
and Sicily. held his audience SPELL
bound with his interesting roper
toire of stories about the famous
fighter squadron. He proved 10 be
quite raconteur when he told his
eager audience about the time when
the outfit arrived in Casablarca
and spent the first night on an
"operational' mission in the we'll
known African city looking for Sam
tDooley WILSON, who sang LAS Time
Goes BY" in Kicks Place in the mo-
ton picture production Casa
blanca" With a Bit of sardonis
humor, Young advised the gradu-
ating cadets not 10 bother about
looking for either Kicks Place or
Sam IL they happened to land in
Casablanca sometime.
Known for his fair and unexcited
journalistic ability. Mr.. Young paid
glowing tribute to the "unsung"
heroes OF the goth when he told
Of the splendid work being done
by the members Of the ground crew
Declaring that no part OF the
squadron deserves more credit for
the success OF the outfit than the
engineering section. the able Vir-
GINA writer stated. THE mechanics
are down on the line until eleven
or twelve at night working to keep
the planes in flying condition, and
those same men are up at am.
before the crack of dawn, and down
on the line again pre- fighting those
planes. And when the pilots get to
the line about six o'clock. the planes
are warmed up and ready to ny."
Behind it ALL" he added. sis
story OF sacrifice and enthusiastic
work by the mechanics and crew
chiefs. and the public does not know
how much they contribute to the
success OF a fighter squadron"
Pilots Get Wings
After Mr.. Young's well-received
address. Col. Noel F. Parrish, Tus-
kegee Army Air Field commander
who has been instrumental in train
ing every one of the Goth pilots.
awarded letters OF appointment as
second lieutenants and flight officers
| in the army air forces TO the gradu-
ates- Major Donald s. McPherson.
director Of training. presented wings
to the graduates. Student officers
receiving wings were 1st Ii Louis
G.. Hill of Indianapolis. Ind: Ind
1t. Frederick p. Hicks. San Fran
cisco. Calf: and End 1t. Charles
D. Hill OF Washington. d. c. All Of
these student officers completed the
twin engine course.
Cadets receiving wings and COM
missions as single engine pilots in
Guided End Its. Thomas p. Braswell,
Buford. Ga: Robert c. Chandler.
st. Allegan. Mich; Emile G. Clifton
Jr.. San Francisco, Calf: Roger b.
Cater. Seaside Heights N. j.:
Joseph z. Gordon. Brooklyn, ". Y:
Alfred NJ. Gorham. Waukesha. Wis;
Richard S. Harder. Brooklyn. N. Y;
Wilbur F. Long. New Rochelle.
". Y: Richard D. Macon. Birming-
ham. Ala: Frank II. Moody. Los
Angeles. Calf; Thomas C. Patton,
South franklin. Tenn: Marion r.
Rodgers. Elizabeth. NJ j.: Shelby =.
Westbrook. Toledo. Ohio: Cohen NJ
White. Detroit. Mich: Kenneth I.
Williams. Los Angeles. Calf: and
Henry A. Wise Jr.. Cheriton. Va.
Appointed flight officers were Cor
nelius p. Gould of Pittsburgh. Pa,
and Leonard r. Willette Of Belle
vile. NJ J.
Completing the Army Air Forces
Training Command course for twin
engine pilots were End Its, Winston
A. Allen. Chicago. H.: Charles w.
Digs. Roxbury. Mass: William II.
Farley. Savannah. Ga; and George
B. Matthews Of Los Angeles. Calf.
Also In the graduating class Of
twin engine pilots were End Its.
Ludovic F. Audant and Delissier
G.. Nicolas OF the Haitian Air Force.
Second 1t Henry A. Wise OF
Cheriton, Va. received the award
for being the best all-around cadet
in the class. Second and third prizes
went TO End Its Kenneth I. Will
liams. Los Angeles. Calf. and Rich
ard S Harder Of Brooklyn, N. Y,