 | Keep Your Airspeed Up Subjects: World War 1939-1945; World War 1939-1945; Prisoners of war; Prisoners of war; World War 1939-1945; World War 1939-1945; African American air pilots; Fighter pilots; Brown, a Minneapolis-born nonagenarian, and Bordner, his wife, chronicle his life, particularly the three years he spent as a fighter pilot in the 332nd Fighter Group. This group, known as "the Tuskegee Airmen," battled the enemy abroad during WWII and racism at home. Brown's story runs from the first great migration through WWII to the civil rights era and into the 21st century. He completed the rigorous Tuskegee Army Flying School exam in 1942, straight out of high school. Brown recalls the pride that being a combat pilot in North Africa and Sicily gave him as well as his youthful arrogance, which caused him to get shot down over Austria. He became a POW before being liberated by Gen. Patton's forces. After stints at Air Force bases in the U.S. and Japan, he ended up at the Strategic Air Command, from which he retired in 1965. Later, Brown worked as an educator and college administrator. He poignantly recalls how he reconnected with his estranged brother, Bubba, and shares his admiration for Benjamin O. Davis Jr. and Daniel "Chappie" James Jr., two legendary black Army officers. Bordner finely records her husband's tale and it makes a worthy addition to the Tuskegee Airmen canon. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. Harold H. Brown grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After completing flight training at the Tuskegee Institute, he served as a combat pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group during World War II. After the war, he joined the Strategic Air Command before earning his PhD and serving as an administrator at what is now Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio Marsha S. Bordner is president emeritus at Terra State Community College in Fremont, Ohio. She has spent more than thirty-five years committed to higher education, both as an educator and as an administrator. She earned her PhD in English from the Ohio State University. |
