Tuskegee Airman receives promotion to brigadier general

AeroTech News ^ | February 20, 2020 | Staff Sgt. Jeremy L. Mosier

[Freeport]

Retired Col. Charles E. McGee, an original Tuskegee Airman, speaks with Senior Airman Alfredo Maldonado, right, and Airman 1st Class Quinton Coke, both personnelist with the 66th Force Support Squadron, during a visit to Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., in 2016. McGee served a total of 30 years in the U.S. Air Force, beginning with the U.S. Army Air Corps, and flew a total of 409 combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps. (Air Force photograph by Mark Herlihy)

Celebrating a 100th birthday is monumental in itself, but for retired Col. Charles E. McGee, shortly after this celebration he would reach yet another milestone in his successful career.

On Feb. 4, 2020, he found himself in the Oval Office at the White House being promoted to brigadier general by President Donald Trump.

“At first I would say ‘wow,’ but looking back, it would have been nice to have had that during active duty, but it didn’t happen that way,” McGee said. “But still, the recognition of what was accomplished, certainly, I am pleased and proud to receive that recognition and hopefully it will help me carry on as we try to motivate our youth in aviation and space career opportunities.”

McGee’s successes started early on in his career, when on June 30, 1943, he earned his pilot’s wings as one of the Tuskegee Airmen, the decorated unit of African American Airmen famous for not only their combat successes, but the impact they had on the cultural shift in the military.

His military career spanned across three decades, where he flew 409 combat missions during three different wars – World War II, the Korean War and...

[Freeport]

Wow. I never knew. Thank you sir.

[momincombatboots]

Woohoo you go General Mcghee!

[Gay State Conservative]

OUTSTANDING!

I love hearing stories like that about "The Greatest Generation"!

[Tucker39]

Famous also for the red tails on their fighter planes. I’m very gratified to know that while they were segregated in the military, they WERE outfitted with the latest and greatest aircraft at the time; P-51 Mustangs. Booyah! to the newly minted General. God bless him.

[Sans-Culotte]

The Tuskegee Airmen were admirable American heroes. Congrats to the general!

[Natty Bumppo@frontier.net]

“Red Tail Angels” to the allied bombers they escorted and the allied troops on the ground they supported.

The “Red Tails” fought and flew as if they had nothing to lose and everything to gain, terrifying their Axis opponents. They shot down three Me-262 jet fighters in a single day.

Pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group earned 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

[GOPJ]

Trail blazer... a true hero.

[Libloather]

SALUTE!

[DawnPatrolGuy]

I've had the honor of knowing Col Charles McGee for some time.  He was an honored guest at the Salute-To-Veterans Airshow in Columbia MO each Memorial Day weekend for many years.  Not only is he a hero but a genuine class act.  Always friendly and humble.

His son followed in his footsteps and flew fighters in the military, but then became an Airline Captain.  Now an airline instructor.

[NorthStarOkie]

The American Heroes Channel (formerly The Military Channel) features the Tuskegee Airmen in one of their shows, “Red Tails” in the series titled “Air Aces.” You will enjoy watching the show and the series. Bomber crews preferred the Red Tails as bomber support since they were so skilled and professional.
One of the leaders was captured by the Germans. Upon being interrogated he learned that the Germans knew more about him than he did himself. Great airmen, great flyers, great Americans. Treat yourself to the show.
General McGee is one of the narrators for the Air Aces show about the Tuskegee Airmen.
My uncle was a co-pilot flying a B-24 Liberator bomber out of Italy. I wonder if the Red Tails escorted his group on their missions. I guess I’ll never know.