Central Illinois pilots were part of the Tuskegee Airmen who made history [Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.]
By Bob Fallstrom And Herb Meeker |, Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Dansby, a graduate of
Maj.
The saga of the Tuskegee Airmen goes like this: In 1944, after enduring racism throughout their recruitment and training, a squadron of young black fighter pilots is finally sent into combat in
Up against the best Luftwaffe planes and pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen prove to be effective fighters. They make a difference as the air war continues over
Dansby began applying to the
He had always been fascinated with flying. As a curious boy, he had a flying experience, launching himself from a steep hill on a frame strung with bed sheets. He and friends built countless model airplanes. And, at the age of 12, Dansby flew an airplane alone at a farm airstrip near
After the war, Dansby returned to
"He was an unusual person," said
Dansby died
Hall's connection to
After leaving Eastern, Hall started aviation training with the Tuskegee Airmen project. The training at a military airfield near
Hall excelled at the training, and by 1942, he and his fellow aviators were facing war duty. In early 1944, near the Allied beachhead of Anzio,
With several dozen combat missions completed by late 1944, Hall came back to
He was a war hero, but his wife,
"He couldn't sit still. He was kind of jittery. I think they all were," she said. "But he was a good pilot and more or less a daredevil when it came to flying. I've only flown a few times myself. To be honest, I'm not in love with flying."
Charlie and Maxine were only married for a few years. Hall, who finished his military career as a major, then moved to
"It's my understanding he wanted to get back into civilian flying. But when he did, and the medical examination required to get him a license, they found he had cancer. He died soon after that," said
Payne has seen the new movie, which does not use real names but shows combat incidents that certainly relate to the flying exploits her late husband and the other 99th pilots.
"I'm not sure if the movie is really doing justice to what they went through," she said. "I had kept up with my 99th friends. We were like an extended family. Most all of them have passed away. I think all of them were real heroes."
[email protected] 421-7981; [email protected] 238-6869
___
(c)2012 the Herald & Review (Decatur, Ill.)
Visit the Herald & Review (Decatur, Ill.) at www.herald-review.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 1005 |
New Federal Proposals Will Make Annuities More Available To Workers
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News