News>Tuskegee Airman donates Congressional Gold Medal to Alaska Reserve unit
Photos
Senior Airman Marren Clay holds Tuskegee Airman retired Col. Charles McGee’s Congressional Gold Medal during the 41st Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Aug. 2, 2012. McGee, in the background, donated his medal for display in the 302nd Fighter Squadron. Clay is a crew chief for the 477th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. McGee along with other Tuskegee Airmen were presented the medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush for their long-ago heroism. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ashley Conner)
by Capt. Ashley Conner
477th Fighter Group Public Affairs
8/8/2012 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) -- The 302nd Fighter Squadron is now home to a Congressional Gold Medal in Aviation.
Tuskegee Airman retired Col. Charles McGee presented his personal medal to Col. Bryan Radliff, 477th Fighter Group commander during the 41st Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Aug. 2.
During World War II McGee was a member of the 302nd Fighter Squadron. The unit painted the tails of their airplane red, which led them to become known as the Red Tails.
The 302nd FS today flies the F-22 Raptor and falls under the 477th FG. The 477th FG and 302nd FS were reactivated at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in October 2007. They became the Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22 Raptor unit and the only Air Force Reserve unit in Alaska.
"Finish what I started," said McGee, who holds an Air Force record of 409 fighter combat missions flown in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, after shaking hands with a few members of the 477th FG who attended the convention.
Senior Airmen Marren Clay is a dedicated crew chief and reservist assigned to the 477th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. His job it is to launch the F-22's and the Reserve pilots assigned to the 302nd FS. He was in attendance during the medal presentation.
"It is a humbling experience to be in the presence of such aviation greatness as Col. McGee and the other Tuskegee Airmen," said Clay. "The Tuskegee Airmen began a tradition of greatness that I hope to carry on."
McGee, along with other Tuskegee Airmen, were presented the medal in 2007 by President George W. Bush for their long-ago heroism. Individual Airmen received bronze replicas while the original gold medal resides at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.
Comments
8/10/2012 9:16:36 AM ET My Son and Daughter-in-law gave me a copy of Tuskegee Airman: The biography of Charles E. McGee a few years ago knowing that I have read several other books about this distinguished group.
Larry Wildman, Indianapolis IN
8/9/2012 12:00:23 PM ET MO MSgt I read this site frequently and I must say that I love the cynicism that contributors on this site often exhibit. I've seen stories on the Doolittle Raiders the crew of the Enola Gay and many other units on this site. The stories this week are because the Tuskeegee Airmen just had their annual convention and PA elected to cover the story. Perhaps you could contact your local PA with a lead for a story on your dad that they could then write about Or you can just complain. Just saying.
Airman, Northern Tier
8/8/2012 1:22:11 PM ET My dad was in WWII, could we do a story about his unit every week? There were alot of other heros in WWII, spread the wealth please.
