They were the famed Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first African American military pilots. Adding to their lasting legacy, most all historical accounts of the Tuskegee Airmen credit them with jump-starting the move to integrate America’s armed forces. Holsclaw named his P-51 “Bernice Baby” in honor of his wife, and flew with his squadron escorting and shielding American bombers. During the war Holsclaw flew in seven major campaigns, including 68 combat missions (flying 18 of them in a 20-day period). Jack and Bernice Holsclaw always wanted to return to Washington, so in 1973 they moved to Bellevue, where he worked in banking.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 28, 2018 20:03 UTC