It is an absolute honor to welcome Brigadier General Charles McGee as our guest for Episode Six.  General McGee is perhaps the most highly decorated Air Force officer and fighter pilot in U.S. Air Force history.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 26, 1942, graduated from Flight School (class 43-F) on June 30, 1943, and was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, known today as the Tuskegee Airmen.  The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American aviators in the history of the United States Armed Forces.  Following World War I, Congress conducted a study that concluded African Americans were not smart enough to fly planes.  As World War II hit full stride, there was a need for additional pilots, so after much lobbying, Congress finally agreed to authorize an experimental African American pilot unit.  These pilots conducted their training at Tuskegee University and Tuskegee Airfield in Alabama, thus their nickname, ‘Tuskegee Airmen.’

General McGee first deployed into combat with the Tuskegee Airmen in Italy, 1943.  He first flew into combat as pilot of the legendary P-51 Mustang, escorting bomber missions across Italy, Germany, and other parts of Europe.  The Tuskegee Airmen had a legendary record, as General McGee’s group never lost a bomber.  After World War II, General McGee remained in the military for thirty years and flew combat missions in three separate wars (WWII, Korea, & Vietnam).  He flew a total of 409 combat missions, the highest recorded total for any pilot in U.S. Air Force history.  He logged a total of 6,308 flight hours in his career, and he forged a path for African Americans in the military, as he became one of the first African American squadron commanders in Air Force history.  

Throughout his career, General McGee earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal, among many other awards and decorations.  In 2011, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and in February 2020, President Trump promoted him from Colonel to Brigadier General during his 2020 State of the Union address.  

Throughout General McGee’s highly decorated career in the U.S. Air Force, he faced incredible racial discrimination.  General McGee joined the military during a time when African American service members were not allowed to serve in combat alongside white troops.  Even after returning from World War II with an incredible service record, General McGee was often refused living quarters on bases and surrounding areas.  He had to remain separated from his family, as he couldn’t find anyone willing to rent a home large enough for his family to join him.  He was denied entrance to the Officer’s Club on-base, and he was forbidden to eat dinner at the same restaurants as white pilots.  While traveling across country with his family, the McGee’s were refused service at hotels and stores, all things we take for granted today.  The Air Force was the first military branch to begin the de-segregation process in 1947, then in 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, calling for equal treatment in the U.S. Armed Forces, regardless of race, color, religion, or national origin.  Even after the executive order, our military continued to struggle with racial division for many years.  

Given the challenges that our nation still faces today, it’s powerful to hear General McGee’s story.  Despite the discrimination he faced, he harbors no anger or ill-will.  He explains these challenges as an evolution that our nation faced, during a very difficult time.  I believe we can all learn from General McGee’s story, and most importantly his positive attitude, as we continue to work through many of these same issues today.

As always, a special thank you to sound engineer Shreyas Ganesh.  Shreyas, thank you for volunteering yo