Yesterday's Air Force: Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Published Feb. 26, 2016 By Air Force TV FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- Daniel “Chappie” James Jr. was the Air Force’s first African-American four-star general. He trained Tuskegee Airmen and even faced former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi at Wheelus Air Force Base, Libya. Yesterday's Air Force is a history and heritage featurette series profiling significant people and missions from the Air Force's past.