Thread: Tuskegee Airman, Mr. Luther Smith

Thanks for that, Fixel. Bless indeed.

Another incredible man. Thanks Fix

BUS-eum Narrative Texts

Luther Smith grew up in the streets of Des Moines dreaming of flying through the clouds. At age 13 he flew his first airplane, perched on the lap of a Ford Trimotor pilot. Smith later said that experience instilled in him “a lifelong love of flying.” As a kid, he hitched rides from his home on School Street to the Des Moines airport, where he worked on airplanes. The white military pilots there became his role models. In 1938 Smith graduated from Roosevelt High School and in 1942 joined the U.S. Army Air Corps, becoming one of twelve African-American Iowans who completed Negro Pilot Training. In May 1943 Smith was commissioned at Tuskegee Airfield in Alabama.

The Tuskegee Airfield and the Selective Service Act of 1940 were created in response to the shortage of white pilots and soldiers. Numerous members of congress and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt urged President Roosevelt to ask congress to pass the Act, which allowed all armed services to enlist African-Americans. On October 1st 1941 the 99th Pursuit Squadron was created, followed by the opening of the 66th Army Air Force Training detachment on December 1st 1941. The task of designing the Tuskegee Airfield was given to a nationally known architect, Archie A. Alexander of Des Moines. 276 African-American pilots trained in a 30-week program while stationed in Tuskegee, leading to one of the most decorated and successful Army Air Force divisions during WWII. The first death in military combat of a Tuskegee Airman was Maurice “Smokey” Easters of Webster City, Iowa.

Lieutenant Luther Smith escorted B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses in 133 combat missions over Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and southwest Germany. On October 13th 1944, after escorting a group of bombers over Hungary, Smith and his flight team were ordered on a search and destroy mission. Smith’s element leader spotted loaded railway oil tankers, which exploded in a massive fireball after being hit with machine gun fire. Smith’s airplane was close to the ground and he was forced to fly his Mustang through the ball of fire. Smith’s airplane immediately caught on fire, making the airplane doomed to crash. He evacuated his airplane and soon became tangled in his parachute, making a hard landing in a nearby forest. Smith was captured and spent seven months in a German POW camp. He was segregated from white POWs and for two years was hospitalized for injuries he sustained in that crash landing.

Despite all of the racism, segregation and personal struggles that Smith faced while in the Army and POW camp, Smith still felt that his home was worth fighting for: “I felt the better I did my job, the better the possibility things would improve at home. It was also a labor of love,” he said. “ I was doing exactly what I wanted to do. You know, in 1941 nobody wanted the Tuskegee Airmen. In 1945 only the Nazis didn’t want us.”

Crashed whilst in P-51 42-24894

Looks like he's keeping well.

Originally Posted by Gage

Thanks for that, Fixel. Bless indeed.

Gage: A few years back, I was the host of a seminar presented by several Tuskegee gentlemen. I was startled when one of my 'heroes' decided to attend via aid of a walker, Mr. Charles 'A-Train' Dryden. He could hardly ambulate, and was only able to scribble his signature in my book due to a recent stroke. Mr. Dryden, of Atlanta, recently died.

The group of airmen included Charles, Luther, Alexander Jefferson [another POW like Luther (although Luther spent much of his time in hospital)], Gene Richardson, and Henry Moore (a B25 groudcrewman). At the end of the presentation which was full of remarkable emotion and warmth, the crowd of about 300 people shouted for more, more, more -they wouldn't let go. The emotion and joy of the crowd was palpable, thick, and I believe the people, many constituting young families with little kids, sensed that here were people who faced more than most can imagine or even endure, and based on their excellence, contributed to where America fines itself today, all for the betterment of our nation. I know my own presentation herein is a bit syrupy, but it is what it is. I take nothing away from any veteran of the era, but these folks were served a double whammy and endured the insults, threats, and hatred with aplomb and equanimity unimagined by most.

Fixel

Originally Posted by fixel101

Gage: A few years back, I was the host of a seminar presented by several Tuskegee gentlemen. I was startled when one of my 'heroes' decided to attend via aid of a walker, Mr. Charles 'A-Train' Dryden. He could hardly ambulate, and was only able to scribble his signature in my book due to a recent stroke. Mr. Dryden, of Atlanta, recently died.

The group of airmen included Charles, Luther, Alexander Jefferson [another POW like Luther (although Luther spent much of his time in hospital)], Gene Richardson, and Henry Moore (a B25 groudcrewman). At the end of the presentation which was full of remarkable emotion and warmth, the crowd of about 300 people shouted for more, more, more -they wouldn't let go. The emotion and joy of the crowd was palpable, thick, and I believe the people, many constituting young families with little kids, sensed that here were people who faced more than most can imagine or even endure, and based on their excellence, contributed to where America fines itself today, all for the betterment of our nation. I know my own presentation herein is a bit syrupy, but it is what it is. I take nothing away from any veteran of the era, but these folks were served a double whammy and endured the insults, threats, and hatred with aplomb and equanimity unimagined by most.

Fixel

Not syrupy at all. Thanks Fixel.

Fixel: I am trying to get info on a 2nd Lt Eugene Theodore who got his wings onn 20 Nov 44, SN 083091. He was from Trinidad but I have no other info as to which sqn, aircraft etc he served in. Can you help? regards, Jerome

Originally Posted by Jerome

Fixel: I am trying to get info on a 2nd Lt Eugene Theodore who got his wings onn 20 Nov 44, SN 083091. He was from Trinidad but I have no other info as to which sqn, aircraft etc he served in. Can you help? regards, Jerome

Hi Jerome !

I don't know if you've seen these sites already but you may gets some clues from here !

Theodore, Eugene G. 44-I-SE 11/20/1944 2nd Lt. 0839091 Port of Spain Trin.

Jan J. Safarik: Air Aces Home Page

Tuskeegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen Facts

Annie

Originally Posted by liverpool annie

Hi Jerome !

I don't know if you've seen these sites already but you may gets some clues from here !

Theodore, Eugene G. 44-I-SE 11/20/1944 2nd Lt. 0839091 Port of Spain Trin.

Jan J. Safarik: Air Aces Home Page

Tuskeegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen Facts

Annie

I got this but I couldn't get it to open up ..... maybe you can !

Eugene G Theodore

Birth Date - 9 Nov 1921
Death Date - 31 Dec 2004
Person Full name - Eugene G Theodore
Residence Last Residence - Laguna Woods, CA

Last Name: theodore, All: eugene