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Description
"...Fifteenth Air Force was established on November 1, 1943 as part of the United States Army Air Forces in the World War II Mediterranean Theater of Operations as a strategic air force and commenced combat operations the day after it was formed. The first commander was General Jimmy Doolittle." 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
373223E1-7310-4A9D-AA54-360737674019 2012-40-17
Subject
Air pilots (LCSH) Soldiers African Americans United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Group, 332nd World War, 1939-1945 Washington, Samuel L
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