NEWSLETTER OF THE DETROIT AUGUST CHAPTER OF THE TUSKEGEE 2006 AIRMEN INCORPORATED

May HawkHawk’’ss 2018 IN THIS ISSUE: > Presidents’ Page > Local Happenings > Activities > Heart of America Banquet CryCry IIII > Lake Huron ! > Tabernacle Missionary [email protected] > Pancakes with a Patriot Hawk's Cry II

Official Newsletter of the DETROIT CHAPTER of TUSKEGEE AIRMEN INCORPORATED TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CONTACT LISTING (OFFICERS-BOARD MEMBERS - 2018)

NAME E-MAIL PHONE President— Miguel Thornton [email protected] (734) 635-0477 1st Vice President—Gwen McNeal [email protected] (248) 895-7130 2nd Vice President—VACANT Treasurer— Gregory Whiting [email protected] (248) 320-0933 Secretary— Theodore Whitely [email protected] (248) 557-4688 Parliamentarian— VACANT Sergeant At Arms—VACANT Membership—Bill Welborne [email protected] (313) 204-2477 Hawk’s Cry II —Eric Palmer [email protected] (313) 683-1520 Ways & Means— VACANT Planning— VACANT Public Relations— Eric Palmer [email protected] (313) 683-1520 Historian—Lawrence Milben (313) 863-5435 Good & Welfare—VACANT Youth Programs— Brian Smith [email protected] (313) 510-7147 Speakers Bureau—Alexander Jefferson [email protected] (248) 996-9676 Chaplin—Dr. Theodore Whitely [email protected] (248) 557-4688

Additional Board Members Hugh Barrington Jr. [email protected] (248) 442-0254 (313) 418-7273 William Thompson Jr. [email protected]

Alternate Information Contact Information Shirley Rankin [email protected] (248) 818-1952 William Henderson [email protected] (734) 484-4829 Donald Carter [email protected] Brian Smith [email protected] (313) 510-7147 Detroit Chapter [email protected] Hawk’s Cry II [email protected] Detroit Red Tail [email protected]

CENTRAL REGION Marv K. Abrams—TAI Central Region President [email protected] 125 Wright Cove, Cibolo, TX 78108 (210) 945-4361 (210)421-2485-CELL

Follow Befriend and Us Like Us DetroitChapterTAInc Detroit Chapter Tuskegee Airmen WEBSITES OF INTEREST HawksCryII Tuskegee Airmen Hawk's Detroit Chapter website TA National Museum website DetroitRedTail Detroit RedTail National Organization TA National Historic Site Detroit RedTail

ON THE COVER: Eric Palmer and LtCol (Ret) pose with Dave ???, coordinator of the Pancakes with a Patriot event, ??? ??? and “RedTail.” Eric and ??? Hold the Selfridge ANGB Tuskegee Airmen street 1 sign THE NEXT TWO CHAPTER MEETINGS Thursday, 10 May 2018 & 14 June 2018 @ 1900 hours (7:00 p.m.) Please Arrive between 6:45pm & 7:00pm. Gates Open at 6:00pm At 1425 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48207 Entrance off of Frederick Ave and Russell Street REMEMBER: CHAPTER MEETINGS ARE ALWAYS THE 2ND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS Please Wear Tuskegee Airmen Marked Clothing to Meetings to Show Uniformity Good Day, Everyone, It is not everyday that a group of individuals can be so blessed by God that they are allowed to car- ry on the legacy of the Men and Women that became known as . My question to you is "What Have You Done Lately" to perpetuate that LEGACY? We've had another terrific month of service to our youth and to our Documented Original Tuskeg- ee Airmen (DOTAs). The Speakers Bureau spoke to well over 600 students during the month and our Young Eagles Program flew 32 young kids on an orientation flight on the 8th of April. Several evening classes are still going on through the National Museum at the airport and The 100th Civil Air Patrol Unit is still growing. Soon another cohort will begin. Other activities during the month included the honoring of the Tuskegee Airmen by Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, an afternoon at Wayne State University where an enormous amount of infor- mation was shared about the approximately 8 to 12 P 39's that were lost in training near Selfridge Air Base, and some of the pilots. Our National Museum has secured salvage rights to one of the wrecked aircraft and Wayne Lusar- di, the man that completed all of the research, found out that one of his family members was a member of the Maripossa, the ship that took some Tuskegee Airmen into battle. On 15 April 1943, it left the Brooklyn Navy Yard for Casablanca carrying military medical units and troops including some Tuskegee Airmen. Another major event was that LTC Harry Stewart was invited and went to to help them recognize an event that happened on April 3,1944 that many of us never knew anything about. Seven Air- men had participated in action when two were shot down. One was killed in action and the other captured and then lynched. LTC Stewart will share that experience with us at this months meeting. He is the only one of the seven that is still alive. How do we keep this legacy ALIVE? Good question, the answer is by giving. It's not too late, today is the First day of the rest of our life. Giving time, service or monetary contribution to organizations and activities that directly or indirectly help perpetuate the LEGACY of the Tuskegee Airmen. Finally, have you sold your Cruise Tickets? Please bring all money to turn in to our Treasurer on Thursday if you have not done so already. Did you get two advertisements? THIS is how we fund the things we do for the young folk. There will be a program Honoring DOTA (First African American Mayor of the City of Detroit), on his birthday during a two day celebration sponsored by the Friends of City Air- port. There are several other parades etc..., going on at the end of the month. We'll share more info at our meeting on May 10th. Also, check our monthly calendar of events on the next page. SEE YOU ON THE 10th. Thunder over Michigan is 25-26 August with set up on the 24th. Please plan to participate. If you are questioned, Detroit Chapter’s current list of Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOTAs) are as follows: Harry Stewart, Jr Frederick Henry Preston Jowers Matt Corbin Russell Nalle Dr. John Cunningham Jesse Rutlidge Fletcher Williams Cornelius Davis (Living in Florida) Thank you God bless you all, DO NOT FORGET ABOUT Miguel Thornton OUR CHANGE OF President MEETING LOCATION Detroit Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. 2 ACTIVITIES & EVENTS TO CONSIDER, ATTEND & SUPPORT • Salute to Detroit Police 9th and 11th Precincts Date: Saturday, May 19, 2018 Time: 12:00 pm AM to 5:00 pm Location: Dad Butler Park 2034 E 8 Mile Road, Detroit, Michigan • MCMM Great Lakes Stampede All Ford & Mustang Show This is a Detroit RedTail Event Date: Saturday, May 19, 2018 Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Location: Birch Run Outlet Mall 12240 S. Beyer Rd., Birch Run, Michigan http://www.mocsem.com/events/documents/18%20Show%20Flyer.pdf • EAA Young Eagles Rally Date: Sunday, May 20, 2018 Location: Coleman A Young international Airport, Detroit, Michigan Registration STARTS at 9:30 am • Friends of the Detroit City Airport Red Carpet Event and Community Memorial Tribute to Coleman A Young. Date: May 23 & 24, 2018 Location: Coleman A Young international Airport, Detroit, Michigan Tickets: http://www.friendsofdca.com/events.html Contact: Beverly Kindle-Walker, [email protected], (313) 822-2237 • 2018 St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade The Chapter and Detroit RedTail will be proudly participating in this event Date: May 27, 2018 Time: 1:00pm Location: along Harper Avenue from Ridgeway running North to 11 Mile http://www.scsmdp.com/ • 2018 Sterling Heights' 39th Annual Memorial Day Parade The Chapter and Detroit RedTail will be proudly participating in this event Date: May 28, 2018 Time: 9:00 am Location: At 10 a.m. the parade kicks off from the City Center parking lot onto Utica Road and veers south on Dodge Park Road to Heritage Junior High. https://www.sterling-heights.net/713/Memorial-Day-Parade

3 L-R , LTC (RET) USAF, SES (RET) JACK ADAMS; LTC (RET) USAF ALEX- ANDER JEFFERSON, 94 YEAR OLD TUSKEGEE AIRMEN PILOT FROM DETROIT WHOSE PLANE WAS DOWNED BY GROUND FIRE—AND HE WAS A POW IN GERMANY FOR NINE MONTHS; ROLANDO ADAMS Heart of America Chapter

L-R, COL REGINALD BASSA, RUBY & CATHY IVY , LT COL(RET) US ARMY LENORA IVY, LTCOMDR USN (RET) REGINALD BASSA JR. WITH WEST POINT PATCH ON HIS POCKET

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L-R, Marianne Leary (whose father was a pilot, and Alexander Jefferson was at the same POW Camp and became friends. Her father’s bomber plane is on the left— called (Painted) Yellow Tails and Jefferson’s plane was one of the (painted )Red Tails; LTC Alexander Jefferson ; Ormer Rogers (Event Project officer); Allen Roberson, HOA TAI President; Rev. Adam Hamilton ,Senior Pastor at the Church of the Resurrection (Community Service Award) ; Rev. Cheryl Bell, Pastor , Church of the Resurrection.

Capt. George Dunmore being presented with a gift for his long and excel- lent service to our Chapter by President Roberson. Jack Adams

L-R : Major (Ret) Al Waller (B-52 Pilot); Anita L. Russell , KC MO. NAACP President(Pioneer award); SGT MAJOR(Ret) US ARMY, President HOA TAI, Tuskegee Airmen; Ormer Rogers, (Vietnam Veteran); Capt (Ret) Ohio National L-R: C/Capt. Katilyn Waage; Allen Roberson; LTC Ivy. Guard, Master of Ceremony 4 Lake Huron Red Tails! The Tuskegee Airmen Project

On Saturday, April 14, 2018, State Maritime Archaeologist, Wayne Lusardi of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary of the Michigan DNR present- ed Lake Huron Red Tails! The Tuskegee Airmen Project at a “Science Under the Dome” lec- ture at the WSU Planetarium. The presentation talked about the Tuskegee Airmen planes that crashed into Lake Huron during training missions out of Selfridge AFB in the 40’s. It centered mostly on Lt Frank Moody, whose plane Wayne and his team mapped for recovery. PDF Poster

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5 Tabernacle Missionary Tuskegee Airmen Recognition

On Saturday, April 14, 2018, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, the Detroit home church of our chapter President, Miguel Thornton, recognized the legacy and accomplishments of the famed Tuskegee Airmen at their April Men’s Bruch with the Pas- tor. Over 200 people were pre- sent to view the 10 minute vi- gnette of Luft Gangster: Memoirs of a 2nd Class Citizen and ask questions of our DOTA that was on hand, LtCol (Ret) Alex Jef- ferson. Breakfast was filling and the crowd very welcoming and appreciative. View More Images

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6 Pancakes with a Patriot

On Saturday, May 5, 2018, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church honored our own LtCol (Ret) Alexander Jefferson during their monthly Pancakes with a Patriot. It turned out to be a challenging, yet delightful event because the church lost power the night before and the hall was powered by portable generators during the event. They had a plan to play the Luft Gangster: Memoirs of a 2nd Class Citizen vignette, but the power outage changed those plans. Which was no problem because LtCol Jefferson spoke for about 35 minutes on a varie- ty of subjects and then an- swered questions for about an- other 15 minutes. Although, there was no power, over 225 people showed up, enough to force the venue to set up an overflow area.

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7 MSU Science Day

The AmericaJR Web Team were LIVE at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum for the 2018 MSU Science Festi- val Detroit Day. The Detroit Expo is one of the 17 days of the MSU Science Festival. Highlights of the De- troit Expo include a hands-on flight simulator demonstration with Tuskegee Airmen; Exploring aquatic animals at the Belle Isle Aquarium; Interactive Detroit bird exhibit presented by the Detroit Audubon Socie- ty; Examining 150 years of Detroit artifacts with Wayne State University; And so much more! The Festival will be held April 6 – 22, 2018 with

8 Honors, finally, for a Tuskegee Airman from Philly, lynched by the Nazis | Mike Newall Updated: APRIL 23, 2018 — 11:23 AM EDT by Mike Newall, STAFF COLUMNIST @MikeNewall | [email protected]

On the morning of April 3, 1945, Second Lt. Walter P. Manning of West Philadelphia sat in a jail cell at a Nazi air force base in Austria. There was a mob at the door, ropes at the ready. The doomed fighter pilot, battered and beaten, wore his wings on his collar. He was a proud Tuskegee Airman, a member of coun- try’s first black combat aviation unit. Back in Philly, Manning had gained attention for his dedication to his dream of becoming a flier: He had failed his physical exam because of a hammer toe and could have avoid- ed war. Instead, he used his defense-plant salary to pay for surgery – so he could . “That’s real patriot- ism,” read a headline in one of the local African American newspapers. Now, he had escaped death twice in the last two days. First, when he bailed out of his plane after a dogfight, where he’d taken out a German fighter. Then, when a local policeman pulled him from a mob that greeted his parachute near Linz. He had flown more than 50 missions, and six times was awarded the Air Medal for heroism. He had a fiancée, GEORG HOFFMAN Lt. Walter P. Manning, of West Philadelph- whose picture he kept close. He was not yet 25. Outside his cell, the mob was waiting. And primed to do ia, was a Tuskegee Airman who was just what Nazi propaganda instructed: to murder a black pilot in the way Americans murdered blacks in their lynched when his plane was shot down in Austria in 1945. Nazi propaganda had own land. They took Manning to the nearest lamppost. encouraged the lynching of American A story long untold pilots, The lynching of Lt. Manning, the only black flier known to have been hanged in Austria during World War II, was never enshrined in museums, let alone noted in the day’s newspapers. It went untold, until recently. In a war that shaped the American consciousness, there are still shamefully forgotten horrors. And this one is particularly chilling because it drew on the sins of our own past. “Isn’t it striking that the Germans monitored the lynching of African Americans in the South of the United States and set loose a similar kind of violence against black airmen?” said Georg Hoffmann, an Austrian-based historian who has researched Manning’s murder. In 2016, Hoffmann and fellow researcher Nicole-Melanie Goll created a database of the 9,000 Allied pilots killed or shot down over Austria, unearthing details on the fates of many fallen crews. Seventy years after the war, the historians were the first to focus on the terrifying and largely for- gotten Nazi phenomenon of Fliegerlynchjustiz. With the air war all but lost by 1943, the Nazis incited citizens to kill any captured Allied pilots. The historians discovered 150 Allied pilots – 101 Americans – who were murdered on the ground, most by civilians. White fliers got beatings or bullets. Manning got a rope. “The reason was the propaganda,” Hoffmann said. “ `The Americans are doing this to African Americans, we should do the same.’ BECKY TODD YORK ” Earlier this month, the historians’ work led the Austrian and U.S. governments to mark A newspaper story from 1942 detailing the heroism of Walter P. the spot where the Philadelphia pilot was lynched with a memorial stone in a service at- Manning. tended by high-ranking U.S. military officials. It was a solemn, elaborate event with honor guards, military bands – and a flyover. “He was a young man who desperately tried to overcome racism in the United States – who became a pilot when it was not for someone of his race to do it – and then died the way he died,” Hoffmann said. “We wanted to commemorate him.” “He wanted to fly in the worst way.” Harry Stewart, then a lieutenant in the , flew alongside Manning that Easter morning in 1945. They had been together at the Tuskegee Institute, the Alabama university where black pilots trained. He remembered his friend as outgoing and affable – a powerful swimmer who did laps in the institute’s Olympic-size pool. “He wanted to fly,” Stewart remembered, “in the worst way.” To avoid the racism of the Jim Crow South, the men stuck to the campus canteens and danc- es. “If I could help it, I did not put myself in the path of humiliation,” said Stewart, who is 93, a retired engineer who lives in Michigan with his wife of over 70 years, Delphine. At a cadet graduate ball, Manning danced to the beat of Count Basie with Dicey Thomas, a pretty university student, who wore a white dress and pinned her hair up in the style of the day. The two were engaged before Manning shipped out. In the dogfight that Easter morning over the Danube River, Manning and UNITED STATES EMBASSY, VIENNA Stewart and five other Tuskegee men, flying their distinctive red-tailed P51s, took out a dozen Ger- Lt. Col. Harry Stewart, friend and fellow airman of Walter P. Manning. man fighters. After his plane was struck, Manning ejected, drifting slowly down in his chute toward the forming mob. An unmarked grave When the Austrian historians began researching Manning’s death, they found many of the details of his prewar life had long faded. With the help of Jerry Whiting, a retired California police officer-turned-Tuskegee researcher, they filled in what they could. He was born in Balti- more but raised in Philly. He attended Howard University but did not graduate. By 1942, when he tried to enlist with the Army Air Force, he was living with his mother, Winifred, in West Pow- elton and working as a machinist at the Signal Corps Depot in Germantown. On his mental examination, he scored 119 out 150, when only an 83 was needed to qualify as a flier. He was accepted into the service the year after his toe surgery. The American military investigation into Manning’s death was quickly closed, Hoffmann found. American liberators soon discovered his body in a shallow grave near the air base. A compassionate civilian had marked the spot with a wooden cross. His body was moved to a soldiers’ cemetery in France. Suspects were identified, GEORG HOFFMANN The memorial service for 2nd Lt. Walter P. Manning at Linz including two German officers, believed to be part of the Werwolf, a Nazi guerrilla group pledg- Hoersching Air Force base in Austria on April 3, 2018. ing to fight on even as the Allies advanced. The officers allegedly bound Manning’s arms be- hind his back, delivered him to the crowd, and hung a sign around his corpse, reading: “We defend ourselves.” No one was ever tried. It’s hard, Hoffmann says, not to think that race played a role in the case’s being scuttled – a final insult to Walter Manning. “Nobody ever tried to put together what happened,” Hoffmann said. Nobody, that is, until the Austrians. On a sun-streaked afternoon earlier this month, Harry Stewart stood at the Linz Hoersching Air Base, on the spot where his brave friend was murdered. The old pilot offered a sharp salute. And as the ceremony went on, the honor guards marched, and the bands played, and the planes roared overheard, he was filled with emotion at the honor paid to his friend. “This was a son of Philadelphia,” Stewart said. “If this son of Philadelphia could be recognized so far away 9 for the sacrifice he made for this nation, then I hope that in some way he could be memorialized back home.” 13 Rolling The Tuskegee Airmen into the American Car Culture

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• May 19, 2018 – MCMM Great Lakes Stampede (Birch Run, MI) Registered • May 27, 2018 – St Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade (St Clair Shores, MI) Registered • May 28, 2018 – Sterling Height Memorial Day Parade (Sterling Heights, MI) Registered • June 1-3, 2018 – Carlisle Ford Nationals (Carlisle, PA) Registered • June 8, 2018 – MIMTHS Annual Car Show and Cruise in (Eastpointe, MI) Registered • June 9, 2018 – WMMC 37th Annual Mustang & Ford Car Show (Grand Rapids, MI) • June 10, 2018 – 43rd Annual SAAC-MCR All Ford Show & Go (Dearborn, MI) • June 16, 2018 – Juneteeth Celebration and Parade • June 22 – 24, 2018 – 2018 GM River Days (Detroit, MI) • June 23, 2018 – 2018 Veterans Benefit Car Show (Troy, MI) Registered • June 30, 2018 – Downriver Cruise - Ponies in the Park (Lincoln Park, MI)

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