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PHOTOCOPIED October 2, 2002; NASM PRESERVATION COPY

1st Negro Made Air General
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (AP)
--President Eisenhower today named the first Negro Air Force general. He is Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr., a 41-year-old native of Washington now serving as director of operations and training of the Far East air forces.

Davis, the son of Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, a retired Army officer, was promoted under the president's directive. His father was the first man of his race to become an Army general.

A 1936 graduate of West Point, the new Air Force general flew 60 combat missions as a World War II pilot in Italy as commander of the 332d fighter group.
^[[Herald American Chicago 10/27/54]]