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Revision as of 15:23, 16 July 2021

Lemuel R. Custis
Born
Lemuel Rodney Custis

June 4, 1915
Hartford, Connecticut, US
DiedFebruary 24, 2005(2005-02-24) (aged 89)
West Hartford, Connecticut, US
Resting placeCedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut, Hartford County
Alma materHoward University, University of Connecticut's School of Law (did not finish)
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
  • Chief Tax Official
Years active1943–1946

Lemuel Rodney Custis (June 4, 1915 – February 24, 2005) was an U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots.[1] He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[2]

A 1938 graduate of Howard University, Custis became Hartford, Connecticut's first African American police officer in 1939.[3][4][5]

In July 1941, Custis was admitted into the Tuskegee Aviation Cadet training program's inaugural class at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Class 42-C-SE.[6] On March 6, 1942, Curtis graduated from the program with Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., future Tuskegee Airmen Commander and future U.S. four-star general; 2nd Lt. George S. "Spanky" Roberts (September 24, 1918 - March 8, 1984); 2nd Lt. Charles DeBow Jr.(Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968)[7]; and 2nd Lt. Mac Ross (1912-1944)[8].[9]

Class 42-C-SE created America's first African-American U.S. Army Air Corps pilots. Custis was the last surviving member of the first Tuskegee Airmen aviation cadet class.[10]

Early Life

Custis was born June 4, 1915 in Wethersfield, Connecticut as the only child of Mary C. Goodwin Curtis and father Charles Custis (1860–1950).[11][12] The son of enslaved African Americans from Virginia, Charles Curtis moved to Hartford, Connecticut after the Civil War, becoming a night elevator operator, day elevator operator, and janitor at insurance giant Aetna. Impressed by Charles, Aetna President Morgan Bulkeley offered him a position as a personal assistant. After Bulkeley had passed away, the successor President, Morgan Brainard retained Charles as a personal assistant who would continue in this role until his death at age 90.[13]

Lemuel Curtis attended Hartford's public school education, graduating from its high school. In 1938, Curtis graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. In 1939, he returned to Hartford with hopes to obtain employment with one of Hartford's insurance conglomerates. In 1940, Curtis became Hartford, Connecticut’s first African-American police officer, serving as a beat officer.[14][15] After Curtis suddenly left the Hartford Police Department, members of Hartford's black community wondered whether the system found a way to rid Curtis from the police force. Months later, they were relieved when the Pittsburgh Courier, one of America's most prominent African American newspapers, published an article showing Curtis with the inaugural Tuskegee pilot class graduates.[16]

Custis was married to Ione Curtis until her death in 1991.[17]

Military Career, Tuskegee Airmen

Curtis left the Hartford Police Department to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In July 1941, Custis was admitted into the U.S. Army Air Corps Tuskegee Aviation Cadet training program's inaugural class at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Class 42-C-SE.[18] On March 6, 1942, Curtis graduated from the program with Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., future Tuskegee Airmen Commander and future U.S. four-star general; 2nd Lt. George S. "Spanky" Roberts (September 24, 1918 - March 8, 1984); 2nd Lt. Charles DeBow Jr.(Feb 13, 1918 – April 4, 1968)[19]; and 2nd Lt. Mac Ross (1912-1944)[20].[21] Class 42-C-SE created America's first African-American U.S. Army Air Corps pilots. Custis was the last surviving member of the first Tuskegee Airmen aviation cadet class.[22]

Curtis served as the 99th Fighter Squadron's Squadron Operations Officer. He flew 92 missions in World War II's European/Mediterranean Theater.[23] During a January 27, 1944 mission in Anzio, Italy to help liberate Rome, Italy from the Axis, Custis shot down an enemy German FW-190 aircraft, earning Curtis an official victory and the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross.[24]

The U.S. Army Air Force transferred Curtis back to Tuskegee where he served as an advanced flight instructor.[25] In 1946, Curtis received an honorable discharge from active duty, retiring with the rank of Major.[26]

Post-Military Career

In 1951, Curtis enrolled at the University of Connecticut's School of Law. However, in 1952, he left UConn Law to work with the State of Connecticut Tax Department.[27] In 1975, he became the State's first African American chief of sales tax. In 1982, he retired as the Tax Department's Chief Examiner after a 30-year career.[28] [29] In 1995, he served as a film consultant for HBO's “The Tuskegee Airmen”.[30]

Curtis was a member of the Windsor Locks, Connecticut [New England Air Museum]]'s Board of Directors.[31][32] He also served as an advisor to the Connecticut Aeronautical Historical Association.[33]

In 1996, Curtis attended the 25th Annual National Convention of Tuskegee Airmen in Seattle, Washington.[34]

Honors

In 2001, Central Connecticut State University awarded Curtis an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities.[35]

Death

Curtis passed away on February 24, 2005 at the Brookview Health Care Center in West Hartford, Connecticut. He was interred at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford, Connecticut in Hartford County.[36]

See also

References

  1. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  2. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. "Lemuel R. Custis - 1915 – 2005."
  4. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  5. ^ THE HARTFORD COURANT. "LEMUEL CUSTIS DIES; LEADER IN BLACK ACHIEVEMENT." DAVID OWENS; Courant Staff Writer. March 2, 2005. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2005-03-02-0503020618-story.html
  6. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  7. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Charles Henry DeBow Jr."
  8. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Mac Ross."
  9. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  10. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  11. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  12. ^ Find a Grave. "Charles Custis." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124215441/charles-custis
  13. ^ Find a Grave. "Charles Custis." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124215441/charles-custis
  14. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  15. ^ THE HARTFORD COURANT. "LEMUEL CUSTIS DIES; LEADER IN BLACK ACHIEVEMENT." DAVID OWENS; Courant Staff Writer. March 2, 2005. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2005-03-02-0503020618-story.html
  16. ^ THE HARTFORD COURANT. "LEMUEL CUSTIS DIES; LEADER IN BLACK ACHIEVEMENT." DAVID OWENS; Courant Staff Writer. March 2, 2005. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2005-03-02-0503020618-story.html
  17. ^ Hartford Courant. Obituary: "CUSTIS, LEMUEL RODNEY. March 5, 2005. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2005-03-03-0503020748-story.html
  18. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  19. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Charles Henry DeBow Jr."
  20. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Mac Ross."
  21. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  22. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  23. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  24. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  25. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  26. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  27. ^ CT Freedom Trail.org. "Lemuel R. Custis.." http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/resource-library/site-of-the-month?month=2011-11
  28. ^ CT Freedom Trail.org. "Lemuel R. Custis.." http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/resource-library/site-of-the-month?month=2011-11
  29. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  30. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  31. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  32. ^ CT Freedom Trail.org. "Lemuel R. Custis.." http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/resource-library/site-of-the-month?month=2011-11
  33. ^ CT Freedom Trail.org. "Lemuel R. Custis.." http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/resource-library/site-of-the-month?month=2011-11
  34. ^ CT Freedom Trail.org. "Lemuel R. Custis.." http://www.ctfreedomtrail.org/resource-library/site-of-the-month?month=2011-11
  35. ^ Caf Rise Above. "Lemuel R. Custis." https://cafriseabove.org/lemuel-custis/
  36. ^ Hartford Courant. Obituary: "CUSTIS, LEMUEL RODNEY. March 5, 2005. https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2005-03-03-0503020748-story.html
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