Author Topic: Gen. Benjamin Davis, Tuskegee Airmen commander, dead at 89 (Read 293 times)

Moose1 · « **on:** July 06, 2002, 02:10:01 PM »

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/07/06/obit.davis.ap/index.html

~~to a pioneer and a hero.~~

Gman · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2002, 02:14:27 PM »

Is right.

I just watched the Tuskegee Airman 2 days ago, the HBO one, and it amazes me how much things were different back then, and why we have people like this to thank for it not being so today.

DRILL · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2002, 03:22:00 PM »

Benjamin O Davis jr

i had the honer of meeting him in 1987
he was a great man amd will be missed
by all .

were loseing them fast guys its lots of sad times ahead im afraid

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2002, 03:35:56 PM »

I thought one of the coolest things HT and the gang did at warbirds was to go with the red tail P-51.

AKDejaVu

oboe · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2002, 07:13:49 PM »

~~to a real hero.~~

Maverick · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2002, 07:39:31 PM »

The world has lost a great man and is diminished for the loss. On the other hand it is a far better place for the efforts of this great soldier and citizen.

fair skies and tail winds Sir!

Just a quick reminder. We are losing many of our heroes from this time era. Try to do what you can to talk to the ones left and let them know we appreciate their sacrifice. We owe them so much.

~~ALL vets~~

midnight Target · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2002, 08:59:16 PM »

I have a die cast model of Davis' pony. I gave it to my grandson (shush) but only after I made him look up the history of the pilot and the red tails.

Wmaker · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2002, 04:32:04 AM »

That guy deserves to be remembered!

Animal · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2002, 04:35:39 AM »

That sucks, but what the hell, he was very old. Those guys had it bad, and they still pwnd the skies even with many powerful people wishing they would fail.

The movie has a scene in wich the Tuskegees are denied better seats on a train, just to give those seats to NAZI POW's, because they are white.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2002, 05:08:09 PM »

I missed this thread and just posted the same in the General Discussion BB. (Just caught it in the paper today.)

I think a memorial mission is in order.

He was a great man and fought a 2 front war.

Although he lived to 89, I am still sad.

eskimo

senna · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2002, 11:15:52 PM »

What a life.

His last mission completed

Nifty · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2002, 09:14:22 AM »

General Davis.

DjV, the P-51D in Aces High isn't from the 332nd FG, according to the writeup in the help pages. It's George Preddy's "Cripes A' Mighty" in the 328th FS, 352nd FG. I don't know why his had a red tail on it. Maybe it was in recognition to the excellent work the 332nd FG was doing.

AKSWulfe · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2002, 11:09:30 AM »

Nifty- the P51D in WB was from the Red Tails, it even had a black pilot for a while. It was #7, I forget exactly who's ride that is, but I can find out when I get home.

Gen. Davis was the man. Despite his own country hoping he'd fail, he succeeded and led his group on to distinction during WWII.

He lived to see the world change drastically from what it was when he was born, and left an excellent history behind him... I'm sure he left this world very happy.
-SW

Nifty · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2002, 11:43:19 AM »

cool. I thought he was talking about the AH plane as well as the WB one.

midnight Target · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2002, 12:35:26 PM »

One of the Airmen recently retired from our local school board. His last name was Leadbetter, and he was a gunner ace in B-25's with 5 confirmed kills. He was also the Air Corps middleweight champion for 2 years in a row. Great guy to talk to, and he went on to get his degree and move through the teaching ranks up to Principal and eventual a board member.