Lieutenant Colonel Lee Archer was a decorated Tuskegee Airman and one of the few Black American fighter pilots to achieve ace status during World War II. Born on September 6, 1919, in Yonkers, New York, Archer joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941 and trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield. As a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, he flew 169 combat missions in the European theater, escorting bombers and engaging enemy aircraft. Archer is credited with shooting down four enemy planes, making him one of the most successful Black American pilots of the war. After his military service, he had a distinguished career in business and government, working to promote diversity in aviation and corporate leadership. Archer’s contributions to the war effort and his impact on civil rights paved the way for future generations of Black aviators. His legacy remains a testament to courage and perseverance to break barriers in aviation, the military, and beyond.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

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