Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-05-30
Air Base Tour Shows .
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der her supervisors.
She IL the fourth ranking en-
listed WAF In the 46s3rd squad
ron.
Sgt. Dixon Joined the Air Force
In Dec. 1913 and after she finished
an indoctrination course at Lack
land Air Force base, Texas. she
was assigned 10 the UsAF radio
operation school at Keesler ALB,
Miss.
Prior TO her assignment TO the
3Ist division at Fort Smelling, she
was at Hamilton ABB, Calf
Miss Dixon Ii also bay chief In
one OF the barracks. Tennis and
golf are her favorite recreational
activities and she plays often at
Hiawatha and Highland.
Airman Second Class LESSEE ",
Grant In the other WAF who will
be leaving the squadron within a
week or two. She has been APP
pointed 10 the mld-June class Of
the Officers Candidate school at
Lakeland AFB, San Antonio,
Texas
Miss Grant. a graduate OF Wiley
college, Wiley. Texas, joined the
WAFs in August. 1861, and be-
fore entering the service she
taught school at Ashdown High
school In Ashdown, Ark.
ASC Grant, whose home In Mar
shall, Texas, and who 10 a member
Of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, il
an administrative specialist In the
AdjutAnt Generals office Of Head
quarters 31st Air Division.
She win be commissioned y
second lieutenant In the WAFs
after successful completion Of the
sin months course NJ Lakeland.
After leaving the WAF officer.
the group next interviewed Cap
tain Cortland v. Smith, staff
chaplain for the 31st division.
Captain Smith stated that the
Indignation policy Of the Air
Force has done a lot In helping
the men Of different races get TO
know each other and as a result
prejudice disappears, and that
such a policy In advantageous to
both races.
He cited an example that hap
pened In Washington. d. c., short
ly after Indignation was adopted.
He stated that a Negro doctor
was assigned TO a squadron and
there was some reluctance on the
part Of some of the white per-
sonnet 10 serve with him. A. time
went on, he proved 10 be an en-
tremely competent doctor and he
was made base surgeon and there
were no disparaging comments at
all when he was promoted.
Captain Smith thought that II
was very significant that when
ever there IL any disagreement
among the personnel, an over
whelming majority Of the Incl
dents are clashes Of personality,
and not race.
The last interview the group
had was with Col. Ernest Berg.
executive officer Of the 72nd Air
Base squadron stationed at Void
Chamberlain field.
Also present at the interview
was Captain Walker and Master
Sergeant Rucbcn r. Warren, who
ls sergeant major Of the rand.
Utilization OF Negro personnel
was discussed and here tho party
found that Negro personnel was
used In all capacities and were
assigned 10 duties that they were
best fitted for.
II was learned that the rank
ing enlisted man was Negro and
that the squadron historian and
the supervisor Of all frame re-
pairs on UsAF aircraft at Void
Chamberlain field In a Negro.
For the past two and . half
years, the only Negro officer sta
tionel at the Twin Cities ARA was
Captain Carl n. Fountain. lie was
very recently transferred TO an.
other assignment,
While he was stationed In tho
Twin Cities, he was the command
ing officer OF the air weather sta
ton at Void Chamberlain field
and he organised the Headquar-
tiers 3ist Air Division weather sta
ton at Fort Smelling and served
as its first commanding officer.
lie also has the distinction OF
being the second Negro 90 reach
the North Pole.
On June II, 1880. he dropped a
canister over the pole commemor-
atinE Matthew Henson who was
the first Negro TO reach the pole.
Henson accompanied Admiral
Robert r, Perry when he dis
covered the pole In 1909.
Other key Negro personnel as
signed to the rand are;
MfSgt. Reuben Warren, Is ser.
gcant major. Ho Supcrvises 10 en-
listed men who man the CORES.
pondencc, publications, special or.
dcrS. mail and distribution sec.
tons.
Warren FIRST Joined the armed