Charles McGee (pilot)
US Air Force officer (1919–2022) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brigadier General Charles Edward McGee (December 7, 1919 − January 16, 2022) was an American fighter pilot who was one of the first African American aviators in the United States military and one of the last living members of the Tuskegee Airmen. McGee first began his career in World War II flying with the Tuskegee Airmen, an all African American military pilot group at a time of segregation in the armed forces. His military aviation career lasted 30 years in which McGee flew 409 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Charles McGee | |
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Born | (1919-12-07)December 7, 1919 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | January 16, 2022(2022-01-16) (aged 102) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1942–1973 |
Rank | Colonel Brigadier general (promoted 2020) |
Unit | 332nd Fighter Group (Tuskegee Airmen) |
Commands | 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (26) Congressional Gold Medal (with all other Tuskegee Airmen) |
For his service, McGee received the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters and the Bronze Star Medal, along with many other military honors. In 2007, as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, McGee received the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2011, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and in February 2020, was promoted from colonel to brigadier general.[1][2]