The Legendary General Charles McGee-Tuskegee Airman — 102

How a celebrated life leaves a legacy of a barrier breaker.

Charles McGee, Tuskegee Airmen fighter pilot born December 7, 1919, in Cleveland, Ohio, has transitioned on January 16, 2022, in his sleep, he was 102 years old. He was one of the first African American pilots in the United States Military.

His career began in World War II flying with the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-African American military pilot group during the days of segregation in the military. His military career lasted for 30 years and he flew 409 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

For his distinguished service, he 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, he received the Congressional Gold Medal. In 2011, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fam,e and in February 2020, promoted from colonel to brigadier general.

McGee followed in the footsteps of his great grandfather who was an Army chaplain in World War I and during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. McGee’s military career began two days after his wedding to Frances Nelson October 17, 1942.

While attending the University of Illinois, he studied engineering and joined college groups and fraternities, the National Society of Pershing Rifles, and Tau chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Months later as a sophomore, he enlisted in the United States Army, October 26, 1942. Before joining the Tuskegee Airmen, he had earned his pilot’s wings and graduated from Class 43-F on June 30, 1943.

McGee flew various fighter planes during the war, the Bell P-39Q Airacobra, the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt, and the North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft, escorted the Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers over Germany, Austria, and the Balkans.

By the time he became a captain, he had flown a total of 137 combat missions and returned to the United States on December 1, 1944, becoming an instructor for the North American B-25 Mitchell bombers at the Tuskegee Army field and remained there until the base closed.

Thereafter Lieutenant Colonel McGee had a resume of notable accomplishments and credits, such as, Commander of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Vietnam, a training and base operations officer at the Lockbourne Army AiAirfield, a fighter pilot, worked at the air refueling unit at Aircraft Maintenance Technical Course, Squadron Commander of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, as a lieutenant colonel flew 172 combat missions during the Vietnam war.

In 1973, McGee retired at the rank of colonel, January 31, 1973. After 30 years of active duty, he achieved a three-war fighter mission total of 409 combat missions, one of the highest by any Air Force fighter pilot. He ended his career with 6,308 flying hours.

As the military was in his DNA, after his military retirement, McGee held functional and honorary positions in aviation. One thing that stayed in the back of his mind, a lifelong goal, was to return to college, at the age of 58 and complete his college degree at Columbia College, 30 years later.

Also, McGee served as the director of the Kansas City airport and a member of the Aviation Advisory Commission. For over 30 years, he remained an ambassador of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc, a public speaker with many accolades along with the National Aeronautic Association’s “Elder Statesman of Aviation.” He served as the president and a national president of the association from 1983 to 1985.

March 29, 2007, at a ceremony inside the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress collectively awarded McGee, and other surviving and deceased Tuskegee Airmen, the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian award.

In 2011, McGee was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio. He was a man of high recognition and respected by his peers, the public, and the military.

For his 99th birthday, in 2018, Glenn Gonzales, a businessman and former Air Force Pilot took him for a flight in a HondaJet and allowed McGee to take the controls of the airplane in flight for the first time in 37 years. In April 2019, McGee was honored at the King Arts Complex in Columbus, Ohio.

December 2019, for McGee’s 100th birthday, he flew with a copilot in a Cirrus Vision Jet and a Cessna Citation M2. The Cirrus flight took him to Dover Air Force Base, where he was greeted by the base commander and other airmen who adored and hungered to meet the Tuskegee Airman who was instrumental in breaking down barriers for them.

Upon his visit, the AOPA National Aviation Community Center hosted a lunch in his honor as he was rewarded with awards and accolades from the FAA, the US Senate, the State of Maryland, the City of Frederick, Maryland, and numerous dignitaries. Also, McGee was honored at the 2020 State of the Union Address.

McGee’s accolades and awards never stopped, on February 2. 2020, he was presented with the coin for the coin flip at Super Bowl LIV, along with three other fellow centenarian World War II veterans. Two days later, he was honored in person at the 2020 State of the Union Address with a promotion to brigadier general.

His combat and military service with a number of military decorations, included the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with 25 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Hellenic Republic World War II Commemorative Medal, along with many related campaign and service ribbons. He was a consultant on the 2012 George Lucas film, Red Tails.

In conclusion, Mr. McGee was the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen. At the age of 102, he accomplished a lot and left footprints for many to follow. He will along with the other Tuskegee Airmen will be remember for their contribution to not only the Military but to America’s freedom. R.I.P.

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(with all other Tuskegee Airmen)