Joseph Elsberry: Difference between revisions

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Elsberry attended [[Langston University]] for three years.
Elsberry attended [[Langston University]] for three years.


==Military Career==
==Military Career, Fame as Member of the Tuskegee Airmen==
Elsberry enlisted in the US Army in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 19 Feb 1942, receiving Army Serial Number 18086103 <ref> Fold3. "Joseph D. Elsberry." https://www.fold3.com/page/84801016/joseph-d-elsberry/facts </ref> A member of Tuskegee Airmen Flight School Class 42-H-SE, he graduated from the Tuskegee Army Flying School on September 6, 1942.
Elsberry enlisted in the US Army in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 19 Feb 1942, receiving Army Serial Number 18086103 <ref> Fold3. "Joseph D. Elsberry." https://www.fold3.com/page/84801016/joseph-d-elsberry/facts </ref>

Prior to 1942, African Americans were not permitted to become fighter pilots as a by-product of Jim Crow segregation and racial discrimination in the United States. As the United States ramped its involvement in the war, the U.S. military experienced a severe shortage of skilled, experienced pilots. As the African American newspapers and civil rights organizations pleaded for African American participation in aeronautics, the U.S. Army Corp created a test aviator training program for African American men. This program, initiated in June 1941, was located in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]] at the Tuskegee Army Airfield near [[Tuskegee Institute]] (now [[Tuskegee University]]).

Elsberry became a member of Tuskegee Airmen Flight School Class 42-H-SE, graduating from the Tuskegee Army Flying School on September 6, 1942. As a member of the "[[Tuskegee Airmen]]") and the all-African American [[332nd Fighter Group]], Elsberry would become one of the greatest, most fearless fighter pilots to have graduated from the Tuskegee Army Flying School.

The "Tuskegee Airmen" formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Composite Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. These mostly black units (often commanded by white officers) completed more than 1,800 missions during World War II, which included 351 bomber escort missions and 112 aerial victories. Their loss record was among the lowest of all American escort fighter groups, and the 332nd Fight Group received the Presidential Unit Citation.


On 23 June 1944, Elsberry and his squadron of [[P-51]] “[[Mustang]]” fighter jets sank a German destroyer in Italy's Trieste Harbor employing exclusively 50-caliber machine guns. Though the German military denied destruction of its destroyer at the hands of US fighter pilots, film confirmed the successful attack.<ref> Los Angles Times. "Joseph Elsberry; One of 1st Black Combat Pilots". APRIL 13, 1985. FROM TIMES WIRE SERVICES. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-13-fi-12351-story.html </ref>
On 23 June 1944, Elsberry and his squadron of [[P-51]] “[[Mustang]]” fighter jets sank a German destroyer in Italy's Trieste Harbor employing exclusively 50-caliber machine guns. Though the German military denied destruction of its destroyer at the hands of US fighter pilots, film confirmed the successful attack.<ref> Los Angles Times. "Joseph Elsberry; One of 1st Black Combat Pilots". APRIL 13, 1985. FROM TIMES WIRE SERVICES. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-13-fi-12351-story.html </ref>

Revision as of 12:07, 24 June 2021

Joseph Elsberry
Born
Joseph Dubois Elsberry

25 April 1921
Langston, Oklahoma
Died31 March 1985
Los Angeles, California
Cause of deathHeart attack
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
Alma materLangston University
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1942-1962

Joseph D. Elsberry (25 April 1921 – 31 March 1985) was a U.S. military officer and famed World War II fighter pilot within the 301st Fighter Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen. [1] Elsberry destroyed three enemy aircraft over France in a single mission on July 12, 1944, and a fourth aircraft in July 20, 1944, becoming the first African American fighter pilot to do so. He is one of three Tuskegee Airmen to have come close to earning the US Military designation, Fighter Ace.[2] He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross.[3]

Early Life

Born Joseph Dubois Elsberry in Langston, Oklahoma. Elsberry was the youngest child and only son of Joseph Dean Elsberry (1890–1930), a school teacher and civic leader, and Beulah Earle Meeks Elsberry (1894–1969), a school teacher. [4] [5] He was the younger brother of Beulah O'Dyne Elsberry Irons (1916–1984), an accomplished pianist and organist, and finish tailor. [6]

Elsberry is considered Langston, Oklahoma's most famous resident.[by whom?] [7]

Education

Elsberry attended Langston University for three years.

Military Career, Fame as Member of the Tuskegee Airmen

Elsberry enlisted in the US Army in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on 19 Feb 1942, receiving Army Serial Number 18086103 [8]

Prior to 1942, African Americans were not permitted to become fighter pilots as a by-product of Jim Crow segregation and racial discrimination in the United States. As the United States ramped its involvement in the war, the U.S. military experienced a severe shortage of skilled, experienced pilots. As the African American newspapers and civil rights organizations pleaded for African American participation in aeronautics, the U.S. Army Corp created a test aviator training program for African American men. This program, initiated in June 1941, was located in Tuskegee, Alabama at the Tuskegee Army Airfield near Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University).

Elsberry became a member of Tuskegee Airmen Flight School Class 42-H-SE, graduating from the Tuskegee Army Flying School on September 6, 1942. As a member of the "Tuskegee Airmen") and the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group, Elsberry would become one of the greatest, most fearless fighter pilots to have graduated from the Tuskegee Army Flying School.

The "Tuskegee Airmen" formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Composite Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces. These mostly black units (often commanded by white officers) completed more than 1,800 missions during World War II, which included 351 bomber escort missions and 112 aerial victories. Their loss record was among the lowest of all American escort fighter groups, and the 332nd Fight Group received the Presidential Unit Citation.

On 23 June 1944, Elsberry and his squadron of P-51 “Mustang” fighter jets sank a German destroyer in Italy's Trieste Harbor employing exclusively 50-caliber machine guns. Though the German military denied destruction of its destroyer at the hands of US fighter pilots, film confirmed the successful attack.[9]

On 12 July 1944, Elsberry, while escorting bombers with his squadron in southern Italy, shot down three German Focke-Wulf 190s in a single day.

On 20 July 1944, Elsberry destroyed an enemy Messerschmitt 109 aircraft on his accomplishments were tantamount to those of an “ace” fighter pilot. His 4 kills came very close to meeting US Military designation for a Fighter Ace.[10] Elsberry joined fellow Tuskegee Airmen Edward L. Toppins and Lee A. Archer ("Buddy" Archer) to each destroy four enemy aircraft. [11]

Elsberry retired in 1962 with the rank of Major.[12]

Later Life & Death

After returning to Oklahoma, Elsberry relocated to San Francisco in 1962, working for Western Electric Company until his final retirement in 1977.

On 31 March 1985, Elsberry had a heart attack and died in his San Francisco, California apartment. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 42, Grave 2804.[13][14][15]

References

Category:1921 births Category:1985 deaths Category:Military personnel from Oklahoma Category:Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

  1. ^ Cafe Rise Above. "Joseph Dubois Elsberry". https://cafriseabove.org/joseph-d-elsberry/
  2. ^ The American Fighter Aces Association. "The American Fighter Ace". https://www.americanfighteraces.org/the-aces/
  3. ^ Find a Grave. "Maj Joseph Dubois “Jodie” Elsberry". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25071957/joseph-dubois-elsberry
  4. ^ Find a Grave. "Joseph Dean Elsberry". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7220356/joseph-dean-elsberry
  5. ^ Find a Grave. "Beulah Earle Meeks Elsberry". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7220329/beulah-earle-elsberry
  6. ^ Find a Grave. "Beulah O'Dyne Elsberry Irons." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7220403/beulah-o'dyne-irons
  7. ^ Travel Noire. "Three Predominantly Black Towns That Are Still Thriving After The Great Migration." Danielle Dorsey. May 21, 2019. https://travelnoire.com/three-predominantly-black-towns-still-thriving-today
  8. ^ Fold3. "Joseph D. Elsberry." https://www.fold3.com/page/84801016/joseph-d-elsberry/facts
  9. ^ Los Angles Times. "Joseph Elsberry; One of 1st Black Combat Pilots". APRIL 13, 1985. FROM TIMES WIRE SERVICES. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-13-fi-12351-story.html
  10. ^ "An American Fighter Ace is a U.S. citizen who has served honorably as a fighter pilot in a U.S. military service or the service of a nation not at war with the United States (or others who flew as a member of a U.S. military service) who has destroyed five or more enemy aircraft in aerial combat." The American Fighter Aces Association. "The American Fighter Ace". https://www.americanfighteraces.org/the-aces/
  11. ^ Aces of WW2. "Tuskegee Airmen." https://acesofww2.com/tuskegee/
  12. ^ Los Angles Times. "Joseph Elsberry; One of 1st Black Combat Pilots". APRIL 13, 1985. FROM TIMES WIRE SERVICES. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-13-fi-12351-story.html
  13. ^ Find a Grave. "Maj Joseph Dubois “Jodie” Elsberry". https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25071957/joseph-dubois-elsberry
  14. ^ Los Angles Times. "Joseph Elsberry; One of 1st Black Combat Pilots". APRIL 13, 1985. FROM TIMES WIRE SERVICES. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-04-13-fi-12351-story.html
  15. ^ Arlington National Cemetery. "Tuskegee Airmen." https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Notable-Graves/African-Americans/Tuskegee-Airmen
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