One of the final surviving Tuskegee Airmen pilots - who flew in World War Two, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars - has died aged 102....
One of the final surviving Tuskegee Airmen pilots - who flew in World War Two, as well as the Korean and Vietnam Wars - has died aged 102.
Charles E. McGee died in his sleep Sunday, at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, bringing to an end an astonishing life that saw him fly as a combat pilot in 409 missions across all three wars.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed McGee's death, writing on Twitter: 'Today, we lost an America hero. While I am saddened by his loss, I'm also incredibly grateful for his sacrifice, his legacy and his character. Rest in Peace, General.'
McGee retired from the military as a colonel in 1973, but was given the honorary rank of Brigadier General by then-President Donald Trump in February 2020 to mark his 100th birthday. He also flew a jet to celebrate his centenary.
McGee's death means there are now just seven surviving Tuskegee Airmen pilots. Of the 14,000 pioneering black men who enlisted to help the war effort, 1,000 - including McGee - qualified as pilots, with an estimated 250 of the airmen who did other jobs still surviving.
Charles E McGee's death was announced by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a moving Twitter message posted Sunday
Charles McGee, pictured with then-President Donald Trump in 2020, died at 102-years-old after flying 409 fighter combat missions over three wars, including World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War
McGee first earned his wings and 2nd Lieutenant's commission in June 1943.
He died in his sleep Sunday morning at his home in Bethesda, Maryland, a family spokesperson said.
'He had his right hand over his heart and was smiling serenely,' his youngest daughter Yvonne McGee said in a statement released by the spokesperson.
Tuskegee airman and U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Colonel Charles McGee reminisces about his career as a military pilot at his home in Bethesda, Maryland
McGee (pictured) was one of the rare black pilots who fought on missions in Europe during World War II. He was a member of the 332nd Fighter Group
McGee was born December 7, 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio. His plane was hit twice in combat, once during the Korean conflict and again years later near Laos, both times on his right wing.
McGee battled racism and segregation during his military career. He was called to service in 1942 at age 23 and became one of the first black military aviators known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
McGee was among more than 900 men to train in rural Alabama from 1940 to 1946 after the Army Air Corps was forced to admit blacks pilot. About 450 deployed overseas and 150 lost their lives in training or combat.
McGee was one of only a few pilots — white or black — who flew combat missions in that conflict and during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
'Being brought up, they say African-American or black, but we're American and our country was at war,' McGee said in 2016.
'We were just as interested in supporting that effort as anybody else at that time and so we turned our back on the fact that there was segregation, if you will, and took advantage of the opportunity to prove that we can fly airplanes,' he added.
The Tuskegee Airmen's success helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement and influenced then-President Harry Truman's decision to desegregate the armed forces in 1948.
Then-President George W. Bush honored the Tuskegee Airmen in 2007 with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by Congress. McGee was among the airmen present at the ceremony
US President George W. Bush (center) signs Presidential Proclamation in Honor of the 60th Anniversary of Armed Forces Integration with Tuskegee Airmen, including General Charles E McGee, pictured to the left of the president with his arms behind his back
Tuskegee airman Charles McGee (center) was present at President Donald Trump's State of the Union on Capitol Hill in 2020, one of his last public appearances before his death
President Ronald Reagan is presented with a flight jacket by Lt. Colonel Charles McGee, President of the Tuskegee Airmen Association (TAI) making Reagan an Honorary Member of the TAI, Washington DC, February 2, 1984
In 2019, McGee was accorded an honorary commission promoting him to the one-star rank of brigadier general under a congressional measure signed by then-President Donald Trump, 13 days after his 100th birthday.
In a White House ceremony on February 4 2020, President Trump officially pinned the star on McGee’s uniform. Later that evening he was cheered by a joint session of Congress at Mr. Trump’s State of the Union address.
A day later, McGee was honored at a Black History Month event at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters in Washington.
After flying as a Tuskegee Airman in World War Two, he built a legacy for the next three decades as an Air Force pilot during the North Korea and Vietnam wars. McGee earned the the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star Medal, along with many other military honors. He retired about 50 years ago.
McGee receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1951 in Korea, with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star Medal, along with many other military honors
McGee posing in his Air Force uniform in an undated picture. He went on to become the director of the Kansas City, Missouri, airport after retiring
Army Brigadier General McGee poses for a photo in his pinned uniform with all the honors he received throughout all three wars he served
Lieutenant Colonel McGee (right) served as Commander of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Vietnam; Lieutenant Tom Coney (left) flew as his backseater
In 2011, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
'We're saddened by the loss of Brigadier General Charles McGee, a trailblazer who served as a Tuskegee Airman and flew 409 combat missions,' NASA also said in a tweet on Sunday after his death was announced.
After his military career, McGee worked as a business executive and served as the director of the Kansas City, Missouri, airport. He also served as president of the Tuskegee Airmen association.
McGee is survived by his three children, 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
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