Tuskegee Titans   by Robert Bailey

During the final months of World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were extremely active escorting bombers, knocking down German fighters and strafing important ground targets. Here we see P-51 Mustangs of the 99th. Squadron, 332nd. Fighter Group, destroying a convoy of German heavy armor and trucks. In the lead is F/O Charles A. Lane, flying 'Meatball Rap II.'

A portion of Tuskegee Airmen releases is donated to the Tuskegee Airmen National Scholarship Fund, which rewards deserving and financially disadvantaged young people who are dedicated to a career in aviation, aeronautics or space. With TUSKEGEE TITANS, $25,000 of prints were donated.

Companion Print

Each Group and Remarqued Edition, and Artist's Proof, comes with a matching number print of DESTROYER ATTACK. The companion print for each Remarqued Edition and Artist's Proof is signed by Tuskegee Airmen 1st Lieutenant Robert L. Martin and 1st Lieutenant Alexander Jefferson (see details below).

Signatures

"We were honored and privileged to have THIRTEEN of the Tuskegee Airmen sign our Group Editions, making this a valuable collector's piece for years to come. Please note the NEW airmen who have not signed with us before. Three of the editions have a companion print, depicting the sinking of a German warship by Tuskegee P­47 Thunderbolts in the Adriatic Sea on June 25, 1944."
— Robert and Michelle Bailey

Flight Officer Charles A. Lane Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended the Harriett Beecher Stowe Teachers College, but studies were interrupted in 1943 when he entered the forces. He flew 26 combat missions in P­47's and P­51's with The Tuskegee, in the 99th. Squadron. He was in the forces for 27 years, flying fighters, transports, and the B­52. He has The Air Medal with 3 OLC's, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Staff Sergeant James A. Sheppard is originally from New York, NY. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1942 and was assigned to the Tuskegee Army Airfield as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. He served with 100 Fighter Squadron and later with 301 Fighter Squadron in the USA and in Europe as a mechanic and crew chief.

1st Lieutenant Robert L. Martin was born in Dubuque, Iowa. He flew with 100 Fighter Squadron and has 63­1/2 missions to his credit. March 3, 1945, he was shot down by ground fire over Zagreb aerodrome (Yugoslavia) and parachuted from the burning airplane. He was rescued by Yugoslav partisans but was not captured by the Germans. He spent five weeks in Yugoslavia and then returned to Italy by truck and plane. Decorations include DFC, Purple Heart and Air Medal with 6 OLC's.

2nd Lieutenant Leo R. Gray was born in Boston, MA. He was a replacement pilot for 100 Fighter Squadron, next to last class. He arrived in Ramitelli, Italy, on March 14, 1945. 2nd Lt. Gray had a near encounter with two Me­262's while he and two other squadron mates were escorting home a P­38. But the jets broke off the attack when the Mustangs dropped tanks. He has 15 missions, and flew P­40's, P­47's and P­51's in combat and retired as a Lt. Colonel. Decorations include Air Medal with Cluster and Presidential Unit Citation.

1st Lieutenant Richard D. Macon was born in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1943 he became a cadet and graduated as a fighter pilot. He then flew the P­40, P­39, and P­47. Lieutenant Macon became a replacement pilot with 99 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group and has 16­1/2 missions to his credit. On August 12, 1944, he was strafing ground targets over southern France when his Mustang was hit by ground fire. It was flipped upside down at tree-trap level and the right wing separated. The next thing Lt. Macon knew, he was lying in a field and his parachute had deployed. He learned that his plane had crashed into a building used by the Germans as a headquarters, killing over 40 German officers and soldiers. Lieutenant Macon's neck was broken and the lower part of his body was temporarily paralyzed. Narrowly missing being shot by a firing squad, he became a POW for over 9 months. Decorations include The Air Medal, Presidential Citation and Purple Heart. He retired with the rank of Captain.

Captain Robert W. Lawrence was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He flew with 99, 318, and 301 Squadrons. The mission from southern Italy to Berlin was the most memorable for him. Six hours and 40 minutes in the cockpit of a P­51 was a long time! He has 33 missions to his credit. Types flown were: PT­17, PT­19, BT­13, AT­6, P­40, P­47, P­51, C­47, B­25 and C­45. Decorations include Presidential Unit Citation, Air Medal with 2 Clusters, Victory Medal, European Medal.

F/O James C. Warren began his career as one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in November 1942 and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1978. He served in WWII in the 477th Bombardment Group (medium) and flew more than 173 combat missions, including the Korean and Vietnam wars. Awards include the DFC with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, and Air Force Commendation Medal. He is the author of Tuskegee Mutiny at Freeman Field.

1st Lieutenant William H. Holloman III was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He flew P­51's with 99 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, during early 1945. After World War II he flew P­47 Thunderbolts with 301 Fighter Squadron and during the Korean war was a MATS pilot. On one mission he was flying the wounded back to the States from the Far East and Korea. He was also the first black helicopter pilot in the Air Force. Bill Holloman later flew with Pacific Western Airlines in Canada. He was recalled to active duty in 1966, serving in Vietnam and later in Europe. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

1st Lieutenant George A. Taylor was born in Middlesex County, Virginia. He flew 120 combat missions in the P­39 Airacobra over Naples Harbor and the Anzio beach-head in the 12th Air Force Tactical Air Command. In the 15th Air Force, he flew missions to southern France, southern Germany and the Ploesti oil fields, Romania. This was in the P­47 Thunderbolt and P­51 Mustang. He was with 100 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. Decorations include 2 Bronze Stars and The Air Medal.

1st Lieutenant William B. Ellis was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He flew with 302, 301 and 99 Fighter Squadrons of the 322nd Fighter Group, 477th Fighter Wing. After the war, he was one of eight fighter pilots who transferred to the 477th Bomb Group, to fly the B­25.

1st Lieutenant Alexander Jefferson was born in Detroit. He graduated from Tuskegee Army Air Field and after combat training, joined the 'Red Tail' 332nd Fighter Group, 301 Fighter Squadron at Ramitelli, Italy. He flew 18 long range escort missions for B­17 and B­24 bombers. On August 12, 1944, three days prior to the invasion of southern France, he was shot down by ground fire while strafing coastal radar installations. He spent the rest of the war as a POW and was liberated by General Paatton's 3rd Army. He visited Dachau concentration camp and returned to the USA as an instrument instructor at Tuskegee Field. Decorations include the Purple Heart and air Medal. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

2nd Lieutenant George E. Hardy hailed originally from Philadelphia, PA. During 1945 he was based at Ramitelli, Italy, with 99 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, flying the P­51 Mustang. He flew 21 combat missions. In addition, 45 comba missions over Korea in the B­29 and 70 combat missions in AC­119K Gunships over Vietnam. Decorations include The Air Medal with 2 OLC's Air Medal (Korea) with 3-7 OLC's and DFC (Vietnam) Air Medal with 8-11 OLC's. He retired as a Lt. Colonel.

1st Lieutenant Theodore G. Lumpkin was born in Los Angeles and drafted at Fort McArthur in L.A. before being shipped to Tuskegee. He served as an Intelligence Officer with 100 Fighter Squadron in Italy from 1943 to October 1945. Decorations include the Victory Medal. Lt. Lumpkin retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

The Story

As the Allied juggernaut rolled on toward the final collapse of the Third Reich in the spring of 1945, fighter aircraft of the 8th, 9th, 12th and 14th Air Forces fanned out in all directions, seeking targets of opportunity.

It was evident to all that the last days of the global struggle to end tyranny was near. It had taken four and a half years to arrive at this stage of the world war at great cost in human lives, both civilian and military against Germany, Italy and Japan. For the Germans, it had finally come down to this: a retreat back to its own borders, and a collapse into anarchy and foreign occupation. Faced with the Russians approaching the outskirts of Berlin in the east and the Allied armies crossing the Rhine in the west, the German army began its final retreat in disarray. By now, it was short of motivated foot soldiers and was desperate for supplies ranging from food and ammunition, to petrol.

Challenged with all this, they still had to face the 'Jabos,' which roamed the countryside, looking for anything and everything that moved and which could be interpreted as a target. It was at these times that the Germans paid their dearest price. Tanks, ground troops and armored personnel carriers were hit almost daily. These encounters were no piece of cake for the pilots either. It was serious business, often at very low altitudes and more dangerous than air to air combat.

In Robert Bailey's action drama, TUSKEGEE TITANS, P­51's of 99 Fighter Squadron , 322nd Fighter Group, have set upon an unfortunate armored column headed back to Germany in broad daylight.