Benjamin O. Davis Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
Born	(1912-12-18)December 18, 1912 Washington, D.C., United States
Died	July 4, 2002(2002-07-04) (aged 89) Washington, D.C., United States
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army United States Air Force
Years of service	1930–1970
Rank	General
Commands held	99th Pursuit Squadron 332nd Fighter Group Tuskegee Airmen 51st Fighter Wing Thirteenth Air Force
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Second Taiwan Strait Crisis Vietnam War
Awards	Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (5) Army Commendation Medal (3) Langley Gold Medal
Relations	Benjamin O. Davis Sr. (father)
Other work	Federal Sky Marshal Program Assistant Secretary of Transportation

Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (born December 18, 1912 – died July 4, 2002) was a brave and pioneering United States Air Force (USAF) general. He is best known for leading the famous World War II group, the Tuskegee Airmen.

General Davis was the first African American to become a brigadier general in the USAF. Years after he retired, on December 9, 1998, President Bill Clinton promoted him to a four-star general. During World War II, Davis commanded the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. These groups protected bombers during air missions over Europe. Davis flew 60 missions in various fighter planes. He was one of the first African American pilots to fight in combat. His father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., was also a trailblazer. He was the first Black brigadier general in the United States Army.

A Pioneer in the Skies

Early Life and Dreams

Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. was born in Washington, D.C. on December 18, 1912. He was the second of three children. His father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., was a U.S. Army officer. At the time, his father was a lieutenant with the 9th Cavalry. This was an African American regiment. His mother, Elnora Dickerson Davis, passed away in 1916.

When Benjamin Jr. was 13, in 1926, he had an amazing experience. He flew with a pilot at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C. This flight made him dream of becoming a pilot himself. In 1929, he graduated from Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He then attended Western Reserve University.

Facing Challenges at West Point

In July 1932, after studying at the University of Chicago, Davis entered the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1936. He was the first African American to graduate from West Point since 1889. His sponsor was Representative Oscar De Priest, the only Black member of Congress at that time.

During his four years at West Point, Davis faced unfair treatment because of his race. His white classmates often ignored him. They hoped this "silent treatment" would make him leave. But it made him even more determined to succeed. His strength and hard work earned him the respect of his classmates. The 1936 yearbook, the Howitzer, praised his courage.

Davis graduated 35th in his class of 276. He was the fourth Black graduate of the academy. When he became a second lieutenant, there were only two Black officers in the Army who were not chaplains: his father and himself. After graduation, he married Agatha Scott.

Davis wanted to join the Army Air Corps. However, they did not accept African Americans at that time. So, in 1936, the U.S. Army assigned him to the all-Black 24th Infantry Regiment. This unit was one of the original Buffalo Soldier regiments. He was not allowed into the officers' club at Fort Benning, Georgia because of his race. In 1937, he attended the U.S. Army Infantry School. Later, he taught military tactics at Tuskegee Institute. This was a historically Black college in Tuskegee, Alabama.

Leading the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II

Captain Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. of Washington, D.C., climbing into an Advanced Trainer (Tuskegee, Alabama; January 1942).

In 1941, the government decided to create a Black flying unit. Captain Davis was chosen for the first training class at Tuskegee Army Air Field. This is where the famous Tuskegee Airmen got their name. In March 1942, Davis graduated from aviation cadet training. He and four classmates became the first African American combat fighter pilots in the U.S. military.

Davis was the first African American officer to fly an Army Air Corps plane alone. In July 1942, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He became the commander of the first all-Black air unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron.

Illustration by Charles Henry Alston

The squadron, flying Curtiss P-40 fighters, went to Tunisia in North Africa in 1943. On June 2, they fought their first battle. They dive-bombed the German-held island of Pantelleria. The squadron also helped in the Allied invasion of Sicily.

In September 1943, Davis returned to the U.S. He took command of the 332nd Fighter Group. This was a larger all-Black unit preparing for overseas duty. Some senior officers tried to stop Black pilots from fighting. They claimed the 99th had performed poorly. Davis was very upset by this. He held a press conference to defend his men. He also presented his case to a War Department committee.

Colonel Davis standing near the nose of a P-47 Thunderbolt, 1944

An investigation found that the 99th's performance was just as good as other units. In January 1944, the 99th proved its skill. Its pilots shot down 12 German planes in two days. They were protecting the Anzio beachhead.

Colonel Davis and his 332nd Fighter Group arrived in Italy soon after. This group was known as the "Red Tails" because of their planes' distinctive markings. They flew many missions deep into German territory. By summer 1944, they flew P-47 Thunderbolts. Later, Davis took over the all-Black 477th Bombardment Group.

During the war, Davis's airmen achieved an amazing record. They flew over 15,000 missions. They shot down 112 enemy planes. They also destroyed or damaged 273 planes on the ground. They lost only 66 of their own planes. Davis himself led 67 missions. He earned the Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Addressing Unfair Treatment

In 1945, Davis was one of ten officers who oversaw the Freeman Field mutiny courts-martial. This event involved African American officers challenging unfair segregation rules. Davis's involvement showed his commitment to fighting for equal treatment.

Breaking Barriers in the U.S. Air Force

Colonel Davis, commander of the 51st FIW, leads a formation of F-86F Sabres during the Korean War, 1953

In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981. This order commanded the racial integration of the armed forces. Colonel Davis helped create the Air Force's plan to make this happen. The Air Force was the first branch to fully integrate.

In 1949, Davis attended Air War College. He then served at the Pentagon and in overseas posts. He helped create the Air Force Thunderbird flight demonstration team. He fought again in 1953 during the Korean War. He commanded the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing (51 FIW). He flew an F-86 Sabre in Korea.

4 April 1956, the “Official Opening” of the Air Task Force Thirteen (Provisional) new compound took place and was attended by high ranking ROCAF officers including General Wang Shu-ming, Commanding General, ROC Air Force and Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Jr, Commander, Air Task Force Thirteen (Provisional), Taipei, Taiwan.

From 1954 to 1955, he worked at Far East Air Forces Headquarters in Tokyo. He then became vice commander of Thirteenth Air Force in Taipei, Taiwan. During his time in Tokyo, he was temporarily promoted to brigadier general.

In April 1957, General Davis moved to Ramstein Air Base, West Germany. He served as chief of staff of Twelfth Air Force. He later became deputy chief of staff for operations. His promotion to brigadier general became permanent in 1960.

In July 1961, he returned to the U.S. Air Force Headquarters. He served as director of manpower and organization. His promotion to major general became permanent in 1962. In 1965, he became chief of staff for the United Nations Command and U.S. Forces in Korea. He was promoted to lieutenant general. In August 1967, he took command of the Thirteenth Air Force in the Republic of the Philippines.

Davis became deputy commander in chief of U.S. Strike Command in August 1968. He retired from active military service on February 1, 1970.

A Legacy of Service and Leadership

After retiring from the Air Force, General Davis continued to serve his country. He became Cleveland's public safety director in 1970. He later served as Assistant Secretary of Transportation. In this role, he helped develop airport security and highway safety. He supported the 55 mile per hour speed limit to save lives and fuel. He retired from the Department of Transportation in 1975.

On December 9, 1998, President Bill Clinton awarded Davis Jr. his fourth star. This promoted him to the rank of full general. In the late 1980s, he began writing his autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis Jr.: American: An Autobiography.

Important Dates and Achievements

Military Ranks and Promotions

General Earle E. Partridge pinning a general's star on Davis.

Portrait of General Davis shortly after receiving his fourth star.

General Davis's promotions throughout his career:

	Second Lieutenant, June 12, 1936
	First Lieutenant, June 19, 1939
	Captain, October 9, 1940 (temporary); June 12, 1946 (permanent)
	Major, May 13, 1942 (temporary);
	Lieutenant colonel, May 29, 1942 (temporary); July 2, 1948 (permanent)
	Colonel, May 29, 1944 (temporary); July 27, 1950 (permanent)
	Brigadier General, October 27, 1954 (temporary); May 16, 1960 (permanent)
	Major General, June 30, 1959 (temporary); January 30, 1962 (permanent)
	Lieutenant General, April 30, 1965 (retired February 1, 1970)
	General, December 9, 1998 (retired list)

Awards and Recognitions

General Davis received many honors for his service. These include:

• 1978 Order of the Sword
• 1992 Langley Gold Medal
• Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006

Lasting Honors and Memorials

General Davis's impact is remembered in many ways:

• In 2002, scholar Molefi Kete Asante included Davis in his list of 100 Greatest African Americans.
• Several schools are named in his honor. These include Davis Aerospace Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, and Benjamin O. Davis High School in Houston, Texas.
• The Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award is given to senior members of the Civil Air Patrol.
• In 2015, West Point named a new barracks after him.
• He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1994.
• He was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 1996.
• On November 1, 2019, the airfield at the United States Air Force Academy was renamed Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Airfield.

Death

Gravesite

Davis's wife, Agatha, passed away on March 10, 2002. General Davis himself died at age 89 on July 4, 2002. He passed away at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He was buried with Agatha on July 17, at Arlington National Cemetery. A Red Tail P-51 Mustang, like the one he flew in World War II, flew over his funeral. President Bill Clinton said that General Davis proved that "a person can overcome adversity and discrimination, achieve great things... and through example and perseverance, one person can bring truly amazing change."

Images for kids

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  Face and obverse of the 1913 Langley Medal awarded to Glenn Hammond Curtiss

See also

In Spanish: Benjamin Oliver Davis para niños

• Davis line
• Executive Order 9981
• List of Tuskegee Airmen
• List of Tuskegee Airmen Cadet Pilot Graduation Classes
• Military history of African Americans