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Guide War Correspondent Picks Best Negro Pilots on All-America Combat Team
By THOMAS W. YOUNG
Journal and Guide War Correspondent
(Copyright.  Reproduction Forbidden.  Passed by Censor)
(Pictures on Page 13)

Who are the eight best Negro fighter pilots in the world?

To pick a mythical "All-America Flight" comprising the races's best combat fliers from the members of the 99th Fighter Squadron, I asked a number of competent observers this question: "Suppose that for the moment you are commanding officer of this first and only fighter squadron of Negro pilots in a combat theatre. You have just been assigned the most difficult, most hazardous and most crucial mission ever given the squadron. On the success or failure of this mission will hang the reputation, the future, the pride, and honor of the squadron. So you must pick a flight of eight men who will summon their last full measure of courage, daring, flying skill, and determination. What eight pilots would you choose?"

SELECTIONS MADE BY THOSE ON THE SCENE

I put that question to some of the mechanics who have nursed the Warhawks flown by these pilots day in and day out through four months of combat action, some of whom are themselves licensed civilian pilots.

Non-flying officers in the squadron who have watched the evolution of this fighting organization since its early days at Tuskegee Army flying school also were asked.

Enlisted men who work with and around the fliers and who have studied carefully their day-to-day combat experiences were asked to name their "dream flight."

And then a few fliers who, in my opinion, because of their past records were certain to make the "All-America," were asked to pick seven others to go with them on such a mission.

LEADERSHIP OF COL. DAVIS CITED

The splendid leadership qualities of Lt. Col. B. O. Davis Jr., have not been overlooked by the selectors. As a squadron commander he was so superior in every respect that he constituted a class by himself. Hardly a man in the 99th would dispute the contention that the fine record made by these pioneer fighter pilots in their combat baptism would never have been realized except for the soldierly, inspiring leadership of this West Pointer.

In tactical operations he had to command both ground and flying personnel, coordinate the work of three separate flights, and himself lead fifty percent of the missions. This All-America flight is made up of pilots whose sole concern is flying and fighting, and who are not encumbered with administrative responsibilities.

In all we got a very good cross-section of the competent opinion in the 99th Fighter Squadron. But these nominations are and will remain anonymous. I alone know whose opinions comprise this consensus. For obvious reasons individual choices never can be revealed.

Here they are - the members of the "ALL-AMERICA FLIGHT OF NEGRO FIGHTER PILOTS":

CAPT. CHARLES B. HALL, 23, Brazil, Ind., flight leader.
FIRST LIEUT. WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, 26, Tuskegee
Institute, Ala.
FIRST LIEUT. JAMES T. WILEY, 25, Pittsburgh, Pa.
FIRST LIEUT. WALTER I. LAWSON, 23, Newtown, Va.
FIRST LIEUT. CHARLES W. DRYDEN, 23, New York City.
FIRST LIEUT. JAMES B. KNIGHTEN, 23, Tulsa, Okla.
FIRST LIEUT. LEE RAYFORD, 25, Washington, D.C.
FIRST LIEUT. SAMUEL M. BRUCE, 27, Seattle, Wash.
FIRST LIEUT. GEORGE RICHARD BOLLING, 23, Phoebus,
Va., "spare."

Hall and Campbell Unanimous Choices

The only unanimous choices were Hall and Campbell. Their names appeared on every ballot cast, but that fact should surprise no one who knows these two natural competitors. Close behind was Wiley, who made 85 percent of the selections. 

Dryden, Knighten, and Rayford were chosen by more than half of the "experts," while over 40 percent of the nominations carried the names of Bruce and Bolling who, incidentally, tied for the eighth place. But the position was given to the former A. and T. College athlete by a very thin margin.

A total of 19 pilots altogether were named in the nominations but the nine selected received over 75 percent of all the votes cast, while less than one-fourth were distributed among the other 10 fliers. 

First Lieutenants Herbert V. Clark, 24, Pine Bluff, Ark., and Spann Watson, 27, Hackensack, N. J., came very close to winning places in this all-star flight. 

They, too, are pilots who know the strength of teamwork and who perform their duties with remarkable devotion to the organization, showing little concern for individual recognition or glory. 

(Continued on page 13)

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-27 15:41:57