Alfonza W. Davis
Alfonza W. Davis | |
---|---|
Born | North Omaha, Nebraska | November 23, 1919
Died | October 29, 1944 | (aged 24)
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army Air Corps |
Years of service | 1942 – 1944 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | Tuskegee Airmen |
Commands held | Squadron commander, 99th Pursuit Squadron |
Awards |
|
Alfonza W. Davis (November 23, 1919 – October 29, 1944) was the first African-American aviator from North Omaha, Nebraska, to be awarded his "wings." He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a recipient of the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Unit Citation. Davis was assumed to be dead after going missing on or about 29 October 1944, over the Adriatic Sea.
Early life[]
Davis graduated valedictorian from Omaha's Technical High School in 1937 and went on to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from Creighton in 1941. At Creighton he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce.[2] He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Career[]
Davis joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, during World War II. He received his flight training at Tuskegee Airfield in Alabama, becoming the first African American from Omaha to graduate and earn his wings. Having graduated at the top of his flight class, he was chosen to be squadron leader of the 302nd Fighter Squadron based in Italy. He later became attached to the 332d Fighter Group as the Assistant Group Operations Officer.[3] The 332d was an all African American unit, known as the "Red Tail" group because of their groups identification colors.[4] He achieved the rank of captain, flying the P-39, P-47 and P-51 Mustang escort fighters.
Davis' awards and decorations included: a Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Distinguished Unit Citation. He was credited with one aerial victory in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations on July 16, 1944.[citation needed]
During his last assignment with the 99th Pursuit Squadron as Squadron Commander, one of the fighter groups that Davis commanded, destroyed 83 German aircraft. While on a reconnaissance mission to Munich, Germany, Davis was lost and declared missing in action over the Northern Adriatic (45°22'59"N 13°9'59"E) in overcast weather on 29 October 1944. The United States Department of War later issued a presumptive finding of death while missing in action on October 30, 1945.[3]
Capt Davis was killed while flying P-51D-10-NA 44-14465 (MACR 9586) atr 1245 hrs.
Awards[]
- Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006[5]
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Distinguished Unit Citation
- Purple Heart
See also[]
- Dogfights (TV series)
- Executive Order 9981
- List of Tuskegee Airmen
- Military history of African Americans
- The Tuskegee Airmen (movie)
Legacy[]
The Alfonza W. Davis Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen was founded in Omaha in 1988 to conduct historical research and document the "pioneering men and women in military aviation, who served our country, fighting two wars—one against enemy military forces and the other against racism at home and abroad."[4] In 2013, Omaha Public Schools named their newest middle school, located at 8050 North 129th Avenue (132nd and State Streets), after him.
Davis is memorialized on the at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery.[6]
See also[]
- History of North Omaha, Nebraska
- List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea
- People from North Omaha, Nebraska
References[]
- ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
- ^ "The Bluejay," Creighton University, 1941, page 30.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-04-20.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ a b [1] at www.aero.state.ne.us
- ^ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. 11 April 2006. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- ^ "Current Affairs". Retrieved 12/28/07.
Notes[]
- ^ The Tuskegee Airmen became known for flying the P-51 aircraft with red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.[1]
External links[]
- The Alfonza W. Davis Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen
- Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University
- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
- Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
- 1919 births
- 1940s missing person cases
- 1944 deaths
- African-American aviators
- African-American life in Omaha, Nebraska
- Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in Italy
- Creighton University alumni
- Military personnel from Omaha, Nebraska
- Missing in action of World War II
- People from Omaha, Nebraska
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Tuskegee Airmen
- United States Army Air Forces officers
- United States Army Air Forces personnel killed in World War II
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1944