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Description
World War II 15th Army Air Corps patch awarded to Captain Samuel L. Washington. The Fifteenth Air Force was established on November 1, 1943 as part of the United States Army Air Forces World War II Mediterranean Theater. The first commander was General Jimmy Doolittle. Mainly operating out of bases in southern Italy, the 15th Air Force, along with the 8th Air Force and RAF Bomber Command, became the instruments used by the Allies to carry the strategic air offensive to Axis occupied Europe and Germany. The 15th was de-activated in Italy on September 15, 1945. Captain Samuel L. Washington enlisted in the Air Force in November 1942. He graduated with the 44-F pilot class from the Tuskegee program on June 27, 1944. He was assigned to the 99th squadron of the 332nd fighter group. As the group transitioned from P-40 fighters to the newer P-51 Mustangs, their aircraft was decorated with bright red spinners and tails and the squadron was nicknamed the Red-Tails. They were based in Italy and provided air support for bomber missions over Germany during the final stages of the World War II European theater in 1945.
Type
Image
Identifier
C16F8415-AD34-4BB0-BD07-086674050410 2012-40-12
Subject
African Americans Air pilots (LCSH) Soldiers World War, 1939-1945 United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Group, 332nd Washington, Samuel L
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