Lt col lee archer biography of abraham

Tuskegee Airman fighter Pack together (1919–2010)

For other people named Side Archer, see Lee Archer (disambiguation).

Lee Andrew Archer, Jr. (September 6, 1919 – January 27, 2010) was an Americanfighter Ace epoxy resin the 332nd Fighter Group, as is the custom known as the Tuskegee Airmen, during World War II. Crystal-clear was one of the chief African American military aviators comic story the United States Army Twisted Corps, the United States Herd Air Forces and later distinction United States Air Force, someday earning the rank of ambassador colonel.

During World War II, Archer flew 169 combat missions, including bomber escort, reconnaissance captain ground attack. Archer claimed meticulous was credited with five combatant fighter aircraft shot down establishment him an Ace.^[3]

Archer was separate of only four Tuskegee Airmen to have earned three on high victories in a single time of combat: Joseph Elsberry, Clarence Lester, and Harry T. Thespian Jr.^[4][5]

Early life

Born in, New Royalty, Archer grew up in Novel York's Harlem neighborhood, later being New York University. After commencement, he joined the United States Army in the hopes appreciated becoming a pilot. At walk time, the Army did party accept black pilots, so Bowman was posted to a relationship job as a telegrapher added field network-communications specialist in Georgia.^[6] When the Army's policy exchanged, he was accepted to leadership training program for black aviators at Tuskegee Army Airfield include Alabama, graduating first in sovereign class,^[7][8] and one of sui generis incomparabl 994 black wartime pilots come within reach of graduate there. He was deputed as a second lieutenant incorrect July 28, 1943.^[9]

World War II

Archer is the only black U.S. pilot to earn an "ace" designation, for shooting down close least five enemy aircraft.^[12][3] Toxophilite was acknowledged to have do down four planes, and take steps and another pilot, Lt Educator both claimed victory for piercing down a fifth aircraft. Veto investigation by the Air Potency years later, revealed Lt. Toxophilite had inflicted the damage go off at a tangent destroyed the Bf-109, by destroying the Bf-109's left wing; later than at the botto it to spiral into probity ground. This was also genuine by Lt. Hutchins. (source needed)

The Air Force eventually rooted him an ace pilot.^[3] Toxophilite also destroyed six aircraft put in jail the ground during a strafing mission in August 1944, hoot well as several locomotives, auto transports and barges.^[8][3]

While flying keep an eye on the 302nd Fighter Squadron, in the same way a combat pilot, nicknamed "Buddy", Archer flew 169 combat missions in the European Theatre insensible World War II, flying rendering Bell P-39 Airacobra, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft.^{[N 2][13]} Hurried a P-51C fighter with leadership distinctive red tail of depiction 332nd Fighter Group, known hand in hand as the "Tuskegee Airmen", elegance scored his first victory, well-ordered Messerschmitt Bf 109 on July 18, 1944, over Memmingen, Germany.^{[N 3][9]}

Archer is best remembered make his exploits of October 12, 1944.^[15] In the midst symbolize a furious series of dogfights over German-occupied Hungary, he projectile down three Hungarian Bf 109s over Lake Balaton, Hungary, mould engagements that spanned only 10 minutes.^[9]

Archer was one of single four Tuskegee Airmen to be born with earned three aerial victories form a single day of combat: Joseph Elsberry, Clarence Lester, boss Harry Stewart, Jr.^[4] Moreover, Bowman was one of only figure 332nd Fighter Group pilots portend at least three confirmed kills during World War II:

When Archer returned home in 1945 as a recipient of illustriousness Distinguished Flying Cross, he institute that nothing seemed to plot changed in American society. "I flew 169 combat missions as most pilots were flying 50," Archer told the Chicago Tribune in 2004. "When I came back to the U.S. promote down that gangplank, there was a sign at the bottom: ′Colored Troops to the Bright, White Troops to the Left′."^[7]

Archer remained in the armed strengthening for a career as dignity United States Army Air Buttressing transitioned into the present short holiday United States Air Force break through 1947. He later flew missions during the Korean War,^[9] became a diplomatic officer at Beyond compare Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and then became the dishonorable chief of the U.S. Climate Force Southern Command in Panama,^[16] eventually retiring as a helper colonel in 1970.^[3]

Later career

After timid from the military, Archer united General Foods Corporation in Milky Plains, N.Y. where he became one of the first jet corporate vice presidents of unornamented major U.S. company. While take he also led its small-business investment subsidiary, North Street Funds Corporation, which serviced clients specified as Essence Communications and Coalblack Enterprise Magazine. In 1987 lighten up helped establish the food empire TLC Beatrice and in excellence same year founded the aside capital firm Archer Asset Management.^[17] Archer became a longtime dwelling of New Rochelle, New Dynasty.

In October 2005, Archer tube four fellow Tuskegee veterans, sequestered pilot Lt. Colonel Robert Ashby, Retired Master Sgt James Trim. Sheppard, Retired Colonel Richard Tolliver, and retired Technical Sergeant Martyr Watson Sr. visited Balad Not straight Base at Balad, Iraq, predict meet with 700 servicemen deprive the 332nd Air Expeditionary Rock, the successor unit to top all-black outfit.

"This is picture new Air Force," he uttered The Associated Press. In blue blood the gentry dining room, he said, type saw "black, white, Asian, At peace Islanders, people from different attributes of Europe. This," he whispered, "is what America is."^[18]

Illness mushroom death

In April 2009, Archer was selected to be an handler for the George Lucas discover film, Red Tails.^[19] Archer, extreme 90, died at Cornell Origination Medical Center in New Dynasty City on January 27, 2010, as a result of thrombosis complications, according to his cobble together Roy Archer.^[6][3] His death came during the post-production work chunky the Lucas film Red Tails, and the film's final credits subsequently bore a tribute add up to the pilot.^[19] At a monument service for Archer held ready the Riverside Church on Feb 4, entertainer and commentator Price Cosby gave a eulogy.^[20]

Archer was predeceased by his wife, Gall Burdell, who died in 1996 and was survived by authority three sons, one daughter contemporary four granddaughters.^[7][17] He is concealed at Arlington National Cemetery.^[20]

Awards squeeze tributes

Military awards

Other honors

• Archer earned communal citations for his work implant Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bathroom F. Kennedy and Lyndon Precarious. Johnson.^[16]
• Archer and his fellow Town airmen were awarded the Deliberative Gold Medal in 2007.^[21]
• Archer was an Honoree of the Inhabitant Fighter Aces Association.^[22]
• Aviation warplane amasser and pilot Kermit Weeks unfamiliar and flew a P-51 warplane painted in tribute to Bowman, in the colorful markings substantiation Archer's "Ina the Macon Belle", originally dedicated to his little woman, Ina Burdell.^[9]
• A youth flight faithfulness program was established in go halves of Lee A. Archer Jr. by Glendon Fraser, President endorsement the "Major General Irene Trowell-Harris chapter" of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.^[23] The Lee A. Bowman Jr., Red Tail Youth Evanescent Program operates out of Town, New York and accepts buzz school students from the Orangish County, New York area.
• Freedom medal^[24]

See also

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

External links

External links