Davis, Benjamin Oliver Jr.

US air force general

1912 - Born on the 18th of December in Washington, D.C.

1926 - At the age of 14 he went for a flight with a barnstorming pilot at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C.

1932 - Entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Representative Oscar De Priest (R-IL) of Chicago sponsored him.

1936 - Graduated 35th in a class of 276 at US Military Academy and was the academy's fourth black graduate (1st black graduate in 20th century).

1941 - Roosevelt administration assigned him to the first training class at Tuskegee Army Air Field.

1942 - He was the first cadet to get his wings from the Tuskegee Army Air Field on 7th of March.

       - Won his wings as one of five black officers to complete the course.

       - In July he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was named commander of the first all-black air unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron.

1943 - Davis was called back to the United States to take command of the 332d Fighter Group.

1945 - He took over the all-black 477th Bombardment Group, which was stationed at Godman Field, Kentucky.

1944 - Received the Silver Star for a strafing run into Austria and the Distinguished Flying Cross for a bomber-escort mission to Munich on 9th June.

1948 - President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order ordering the racial integration of the armed forces.

1965 - Became the 1st black general in US Air Force.

1970 - He held the rank of Lieutenant General.

1971 - Became Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Environment, Safety, and Consumer Affairs.

1975 - Retired from the Department of Transportation.

1978 - Served on the American Battle Monuments Commission.

1991 - He published his autobiography, Benjamin O. Davis Jr.

1998 - On 9th of December President Clinton awarded him a fourth star raising him to the rank of full general.

2002 - Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. died on 4th of July.