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Tuskegee Airman to give medal to museum

Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007, which Charles “C.I.” Williams is donating to the National Afro-American Museum and History Center.

Staff photo by Ty Greenlees Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007, which Charles “C.I.” Williams is donating to the National Afro-American Museum and History Center.

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Staff photo by Ty Greenlees Tuskegee Airman Charles “C.I.” Williams, 93, holds a wooden model of the P-51 Mustang he flew in World War II.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer 11:34 PM Monday, November 9, 2009

DAYTON — As a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, fighter pilot Charles Williams served across Europe, flying escorts with his fellow black aviators to protect U.S. bomber aircraft on World War II combat missions.

As black men, they fought what was effectively a second war to challenge bias and lack of respect in a U.S. military that was then strictly segregated by race.

Williams, 93, of Dayton, recalls being among more than 100 black military personnel arrested in 1945 for participating in what he described as a nonviolent sit-in after some of them were refused admission to the officers’ club at Freeman Field in Seymour, Ind., to keep them apart from white officers. On another occasion, although he wore his military attire and identifying wings, Capt. Williams was arrested for “impersonating an Air Corps officer” in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when he tried to have one of his airmen freed from jail for alleged misconduct.

At a gathering of Tuskegee pilots, including Williams, in Dayton in early October, some of them marveled at having lived to witness the election of the country’s first black president, Barack Obama.

“Never in my whole life did I expect to see anything like that,” Williams said Thursday, Nov. 5.

In recent decades, the recognition has come. The Tuskegee Airmen were awarded Congressional Gold Medals in 2006. The Daughters of the American Revolution honored Williams as its “man of the year” at a Columbus convention two years ago. He has spoken at schools and universities about the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy.

Now, the Dayton veteran is preparing to donate his Congressional Gold Medal to the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, to which he has previously given an Air Force uniform he wore decades ago.

The museum is also to receive signed photo posters of Williams, 93, and other Tuskegee pilots who gathered in Dayton in early October, in a project coordinated by National City Bank. Supporters are working on arranging a reception later this year at the National City Bank building, 6 N. Main St., at which the items are to be presented.

The items will be permanently displayed at the Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce, said Floyd Thomas, its curator.

The surviving Tuskegee Airmen represent thousands who were trained at the Tuskegee Institute, Ala., and other locations as black Americans finally got an opportunity to serve as aviators for the U.S. war effort. White Americans already had numerous flight training locations available, but blacks encountered resistance, Williams recalled in an interview last week at his Dayton home.

"They didn't want the black man to fly, to begin with," he said.

The Tuskegee pilots ultimately flew P-39s, P-40s, P-47s, P-51s and B-25s on combat missions. They were dubbed the "Red-Tailed Angels" for their tradition of painting the tails of their planes red.

Harry Truman, then a U.S. senator from Missouri, was instrumental in helping establish training for the black aviators, Williams said.

As president, Truman issued an executive order after World War II to ban discrimination throughout what was then known as the War Department.

It was the 1970s before the Tuskegee Airmen began receiving recognition for their contributions. The awards ceremonies came years later.

Williams and his colleagues have spent much time since then making public appearances to discuss their experiences. That included a Dayton reunion of 16 of the pilots in early October, sponsored by Waste Management Inc., Dayton Power & Light Co., Dayton Development Coalition, National City Bank and others.

In recent years, Williams said he has spoken at numerous public schools across the Miami Valley and at universities including Dayton, Notre Dame, Santa Clara and Kentucky "just giving the history of the Tuskegee Airmen — because we are history."

Williams' personal history included playing football prior to World War II at the University of California, Los Angeles, with Jackie Robinson, who went on to become Major League Baseball's first black player when he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Williams' government service took him across Europe and to the Philippines.

He met his wife of 45 years, Grace, during an assignment to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He later worked for NCR Corp. before retiring.

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force has an exhibit recounting the Tuskegee Airmen's achievements.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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I am proud and honored to call Mr. Williams my personal friend. Thanks to all the brave men and women who served and especially to the men and women of color then and today. Thanks again to "My Friend"!

John King
5:35 PM, 11/22/2009

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Excellent article.

Leon E. "Chief" Frazier
11:46 AM, 11/11/2009

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I watched a movie today about the Buffalo Soldiers of WW2.
I thought it was interesting and very much in line with Tuskegee Airmen story
Miracle at St. Anna
Check it out

Ed
10:38 PM, 11/10/2009

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It's an amazing feat to have to survived as a Tuskegee airman pilot in WW2. Also living to be 93 and hopefully in good health. Hope you are still able to fly,as my dad was a pilot. Thank you for your brave service and God Bless.

riverat
9:40 PM, 11/10/2009

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God Bless you Mr.Williams and thank you for your generous donation of your metal from serving such heroic group of men. My father was a WWII Vet. All of you were, and are the greatest generation! Anyone in any branch of the service protecting this country at any conflict or wars become our nations heroes and heroines! But your group waiting a long time for your honors which were due! Thank you for your service and example.

Pia Kanistros
5:46 PM, 11/10/2009

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