The Sun Bay Paper Page 25 January 21, 2022 - January 27, 2022 Celebrated Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee EXPIRES JAN 31, 2022 Decorated Tuskegee Airman pilot Charles McGee who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars, has passed away at age 102 . McGee was known for his mantra; The Four P’s, “Perceive, Prepare, Perform, and Persevere.” McGee was one of the last surviving pilots from the Tuskegee Airmen — a group of African American pilots who were credited not only for their service in World War II, but also for breaking barriers. General McGee flew in the North Korea and Vietnam wars for 30 years after his service in World War II. In 1951, McGee was the Commander of the 44th Fighter Bomber Squadron in the Philippines. In 1972, he became the first Black Commander of the Richard-Gebaur Missouri Air Reserve Base. McGee was one of only a few pilots — white or Black — who flew combat missions in World War ll and during the Korean and Vietnam wars. "You could say that one of the things we were fighting for was equality. Equality of opportunity. We knew we had the same skills, or better,″ he told The Associated Press in a 1995 interview. McGee’s family said in a statement that he was a “living legend known for his kind-hearted, and humble nature, who saw positivity at every turn.” He was presented with the Congressional gold medal by President George W. Bush, and became a part of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and received many other honors. To celebrate his 99th and 100th birthdays, he flew three stateof-the-art business jets. Upon turning 100 years old, McGee was accorded an honorary commission promoting him to the one-star rank of Brigadier General under a congressional measure signed by President Donald Trump. In 2020, McGee won applause from members of Congress when introduced by Trump during his State of the Union address. On his 102nd birthday Charles McGee traveled on Air Force T-37 VIPAir Transport from Joint Base Andrews to visit the 99th Flying Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, according to a news release. It was also announced that a next generation jet trainer will pay homage to the Tuskegee Airmen with a red tail. McGee is survived by his children Charlene, Ronald, and Yvonne McGee, and his 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild.
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