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Description
Silver Star Medal awarded to Captain Samuel L. Washington. "The decoration could be awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party." 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
72A2E886-FFED-42C0-8AAC-292999135101 2012-40-14
Subject
African Americans Soldiers Air pilots (LCSH) World War, 1939-1945 United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Group, 332nd Washington, Samuel L
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