Washington: US War Pilot Charles McGee, who faced military separation when he became a legendary member of the all-round flying style known as Tuskegee Airmen, died on Sunday at the age of 102, officials said.
“Today, we lost an American hero,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin himself as a strike as the first African American who led the Pentagon told Twitter about the pilot which was one of the last famous unit members.
“When I was sad by losing it, I was also very grateful for his sacrifice, his inheritance, and his character,” Austin added.
“Take a break in peace, general.” McGee served in World War II and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, flying more than 400 missions in total.
During World War II, American units and training were separated by races, as well as military facilities.
In 1941 the Congress ordered the army water corps to launch all-black battle units, and the training of black men into pilots and mechanics began at the new air base in Tuskegee, Alabama.
McGee decades later expressed pride in the achievements of the unit and how it helped open the way for full integration in the US military.
“Don’t let the situation be the reason not to reach,” said on American history TV.
“We can bend our heads and say,” They called me the name, they didn’t like me, said I couldn’t do anything, “and leave and not serve the country.
But what will work?” The performance of Tuskegee Airment, he said, “helps bring change to the country.” McGee enrolled in the military a day after his marriage, according to us Vice President Kamala Harris, who said Sunday that he spoke by telephone to a retired flight flight last month to mark his 102nd birthday and “to be grateful for his service to our nation.” McGee It was one of the members of the unit who was still a living awarded the Congress gold medal, the highest civilian award in the country, in 2007, admitted “those unique military records that inspired revolutionary reforms in the armed forces.” By 2020, then – President Donald Trump invited McGee to the state of the unity where the pilot received a festive applause.
Trump promoted McGee to the rank of Brigadier General.