Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the legendary leader of the Tuskegee Airmen, assumed command of Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio. This marked a historic moment as he became the first Black officer to command an integrated U.S. Air Force base. Davis had previously led the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group during World War II—units composed of Black pilots, bombardiers, navigators, and support crews who overcame racial discrimination to earn a distinguished combat record in Europe. Their success challenged racist beliefs and laid the groundwork for the desegregation of the U.S. military.
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