It’s a new day in paradise!
the year was 2016
Good day everyone,
Many readers weren’t members of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. in 2016. Back then TFAM was serving up interesting stories and first hand accounts from the Airmen like the one from Nathan Thomas about Major Joe Gomer, original Tuskegee Airman, as told by Nathan Thomas.
Oh goody, today, I’m sharing more of their experiences with you.
Open the attachments to get the full story, in the meantime here are the teasers I opened these editions with.
Lots of Contributors from 2016 in today’s edition, including some still with us and some not…
Miguel Thornton, Nathan Thomas, Quincy Magwood, Nichole King-Campbell, Conway Jones, Patt Terrelongue, Burt Lowe, Yolandea Wood, Amelia Montgomery, Mario Tarver, and others.
Good day everyone,
Many readers weren’t members of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. in 2016.
Back then TFAM was serving up interesting stories and first hand
accounts from the Airmen like the one from Nathan Thomas about
Major Joe Gomer, original Tuskegee Airman, as told by Nathan
Thomas.
Oh goody, today, I’m sharing more of their experiences with you.
Open the attachments to get the full story, in the meantime here are
the teasers I opened these editions with.
!TFAM
Today is Friday, September 23, 2016
It’s a new day in paradise!
Dear readers,
Expect good things today. We’ve got an up close and personal
account of a visit with Major (ret) Joe Gomer, OTA, from Nathan
Thomas; pictures of Major Gomer; interesting information from the
NMAAHC, and other news.
First up…
Major (ret) Joe Gomer, Original Tuskegee Airman
Many of you may not have seen this. Lt. Col Hiram Mann and I
visited with Major Joe Gomer a year before his passing. He has a
statue erected to him in the Duluth Airport, Minnesota. You will see
Retired Command Sergeant Major Steve Campos, myself and Lt. Col
Hiram Mann standing in front of Major Joe Gomer’s statue. Last
photo is of Major Joe Gomer. We knew he was in failing health so we
went to see him in Duluth, the weather was terrible -16 below and
freezing cold. It took three (Toni & Dennis Behling, Steve Campos,
and I supervised…smile) of us to lift his (LtCol Mann) wheelchair up
the (only four steps) stairs to Major Gomer’s house. After scarred
knees and bruised hips we were able to get buddies to see each
other…
To read the rest of this heartfelt account and other news, including
events at the National Museum of African American History click on
the attachment.
!TFAM
Today is Friday, July 01, 2016
It’s a new day in paradise!
Inducted into the Cradle of Aviation Museum -Dr. Nancy Leftenant
Colon
Thanks Quincy for forwarding this historic news to us, !TFAM readers
greatly appreciate it. Your email is below and pictures are attached.
On June 21, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. DOTA Nancy L. Colon will be
inducted into the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Charles Lindbergh
Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. # 516-572-4111
Please give her a shout out, on this historic event.
Best regards,
Quincy Magwood
President
Eastern Region, TAI
Air Force major to be recognized at 2016 BET Awards
Look what Major Ruffin is doing for the TAI Legacy!
Nichole J. King-Campbell, you are the best and thank you for
sending !TFAM news of this upcoming event.
Congrats to Major Ruffin for his outstanding work and recognition.
May he keep up the good work that he is doing to ensure the
legacy of Tuskegee Airmen.
!TFAM, click on the link below to read the full story on Major Ruffin
http://www.aetc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/5115/Article/8119
95/air-force-major-to-be-recognized-at-2016-bet-awards.aspx
Rise Above Experience
Mario Tarver, TAI Hawaii Chapter, sent the email below and
attached flyer. This two day event takes place during the TAI Annual
Convention, but for those not going to Indianapolis maybe you can
arrange to be in Alabama. Check it out!!
Ms. Simpson,
Can you please distribute this flyer to everyone on the distribution?
This is for a two day open house, the first is Thursday July 14, 2016 in
Montgomery, AL at Danelly Field KMGM, the second is for Saturday
July 16, 2016 at Historic Moton field in Tuskegee, AL K06A. Both days
will feature the “Rise Above Experience”, which a truck
trailer showing a 10minute video on the Tuskegee Airmen. Thank you
for all the help.
Mario Tarver
!TFAM
Today is Thursday, September 22, 2016
It’s a new day in paradise!
Dear readers,
Let’s start with a birthday!
Friday, September 23, 2016, is Rod Gillead’s birthday Rod is president
of Western Region TAI; middle son of, the one and only dearly
departed, LeRoy Gillead, original Tuskegee Airman; and member of
the William “Bill” Campbell chapter. Rod will be 70 years old. Rod,
you don’t look a day over fifty-nine!
Happy Birthday Rod!
Smithsonian Tuskegee Airmen Training Aircraft
Dear !TFAM,
Check out this picture of an AT6 installed at the Smithsonian with
Conway Jones Jr in the foreground.
To read the full version of today’s edition open the attached pdf.
Read stories and see pictures of the AT6, Rachael Robinson (Jackie
Robinson’s surviving spouse, original Tuskegee Airmen LtCol Hiram
Mann…
!TFAM
Today is Wednesday, November 2, 2016
It’s a new day in paradise!
The Lonely Eagles Chapter has a new member
Audley Coulthurst
Dear readers, Patt Terrelongue sent word that Mr. Coulthurst, original
Tuskegee Airman and member of the Claude B. Govan chapter
joined the other Lonely Eagles.
This article is about Audley Coulthurst’s Tuskegee experience.
With the production of the movie “Red Tails” the public learned
about the 332nd Fighter Group who fought two fronts during WWII.
Audley Coulthurst, DOTA (DESIGNATED ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE
AIRMAN) is a gentle, soft spoken man.
A member of the Jetsetter Bridge club in Queens, New York. The
club plays bridge at the Community Bridge Home.
Audley was a member of the bomber group on the Billy Mitchell
Medium Bomber known as the B-25, a part of the 477th Unit. He was
one of a six man team. He manned one of the two “waist” guns, flew
four hours a day and received hazard pay. As radio operator he was
responsible for communication between the flight and ground
crews. As a mechanic gunner he maintained and repaired 50
caliber machine guns. Audley enlisted in the Army in December 1942
and was discharged in March 1949. A remarkable man, Audley was
one of the first black CPAs in the country, now retired and enjoying
family, friends and bridge and is an active member of the DOTA.
The information below was provided by Audley Coulthurst.
- -Enlisted in the Army Reserve Corp. Dec. 1942
- -Attached to Chamberlin Tech until July 1943 –
- Morse Code, Typing, 1st Echelon Radio maintenance
- -Entered Active service Sept.1943
- -Basic Training at Kearns Utah Sept. 1943-Dec. 1943
- -Transferred to Charleston SC Army Air Base Dec. 1943
- -Transferred to Selfridge Army Air Field, Michigan as
crewmember of 477th Bomb Group (M) 618th Squadron.
Classified as ROMG (Radio, Operator Mechanic, Gunner) Jan.
1944 - -Moved from Selfridge Field to Goodman Army Air Filed, KY on
the Fort Knox Reservation May 1944 - -Moved to Freeman Field Seymour Ind. March 1945
- -Freeman Field Mutiny April 1945
- -101 Black Officers arrested
- -3 brought to trial (Roger C. Terry, Marsden A. Thompson, Shirlky
R. Clinton) charged with Civil Disobedience. - -Roger C. Terry was found guilty of shoving the Provost Marshall
and fined $150.00 - -General Arnold replaced all the white officers with Blacks
commanded by - Col. Benjamin O Davis Jr.
- -Packing to deploy to bomb Japan, the Atom bomb was
dropped August 1945 - -477th CG was moved to Lockbourne Army Air Field Ohio March
1946 - -477th becomes the 332nd Fighter Group and later the 332
Fighter Wing summer 1947
Correction… last night I wrote that Patt Terrelongue was the
president of the Claude Govan TAI chapter. Thank goodness for
Amelia Montgomery for sending the following email
Dear Sunnye,
Thank you for your message informing everyone about Patt. Of
course, we are praying for her and that God will be with her and
heal her. But, point of information, Patt is past president of The
Claude B. Govan Tri-State Chapter, I am the immediate past
president and Mr. Willie Jackson is now president.
Thought you should know that.
Best wishes,
Amelia Montgomery
Remembering Robert “Bob” Hoover
Conway Jones Jr. sent us a link to an article about the passing of
one of his heroes, Robert “Bob” Hoover. I’ve seen several references
to Mr. Hoover over the last week and find his story noteworthy.
https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/remembering-robert-bob-hoover
Obit for Original Tuskegee Airman Connie Napier
Burt Lowe, Detroit TAI chapter was kind enough to send the following
link to the obit for Connie Napier. Maybe you’ll read it and pass it
forward the next time you share the legacy of Tuskegee Airmen. We
must never forget, we must remember their contributions. Their
legacy is in our hands.
I found this interesting and thought you would too:
Connie Nappier, Jr. Obituary, Hartford, CT | Hartford Funeral Homes
and Connecticut Obituaries
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