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←Created page with '{{Infobox person | name = Sherman W. White | birth_name = Sherman Windham White, Jr. | birth_date = October 17, 1919 | birth_place = Macon, Mississippi, Noxubee County US | death_date = {{death date and age|1943|07|02|1919|10|17}} | death_place = Sicily | resting_place = Remains never Found, Memorialized at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunisia | alma...'
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Revision as of 15:29, 19 July 2021

Sherman W. White
Born
Sherman Windham White, Jr.

October 17, 1919
Macon, Mississippi, Noxubee County US
DiedJuly 2, 1943(1943-07-02) (aged 23)
Sicily
Resting placeRemains never Found, Memorialized at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Carthage, Tunisia
Alma materUniversity of Chicago(did not finish)
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1941–1943

Sherman Windham White, Jr. (October 17, 1919 - July 2, 1943) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer/2nd Lieutenant and combat fighter pilot with the prodigious, all-African American 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] One of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, White was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen's third-ever aviation cadet class, and one of the first twelve African Americans to become combat fighter pilots.[2][3]

White and fellow Tuskegee Airmen pilot Lt. James L. McCullin were the first ever African American pilots killed in aerial combat.[4]

Early Life, Education

White was born on October 17, 1919 in Macon, Mississippi, Noxubee County. He was the son of Sherman H. White Sr. and Nettie White, both middle-class grammar school teachers in Elmore, Alabama.[5][6] White Sr. and Nettie had three other children: Willa White, James White, and Samson White.[7]

White attended the University of Chicago. All of the White children would graduate from college except White Jr., who left the University of Chicago to become a combat pilot.[8] White Jr. would persuade his parents to move from Elmore, Alabama to back to his parents' old city, Montgomery, Alabama. White Jr. used his officer salary to make payments on the family's newly acquired home at 694 West Jeff Davis Avenue.[9][10] White's sister Willa served in World War II as a member of the WAC. White's brother James served in World War II as a member of the U.S. Marines Corps. White's brother Samson served in the [[U.S. Army during the Korean War.[11]

Military Service, Tuskegee Airmen

In 1941, White left the University of Chicago after being admitted to the U.S. Army Air Corps's aviation program at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama. On May 20, 1942, White graduated as a member of Tuskegee aviation's 3rd ever Single Engine Section Cadet Class SE-42-E, receiving his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. Graduating Cadet Class - Single Engine Section - SE-42-E. White was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron which was declared combat-ready on September 15, 1942. On April 24, 1943, White and the 99th Fighter Squadron were deployed in North Africa.[12]

Unit Assignments

  • 1941–1942, AAF MOS 770, Aviation Cadet Flight School, Tuskegee AAF[13]
  • 1942–1943, AAF MOS 1055, 99th Fighter Squadron, Fardjouna Airfield[14]
  • 1943–1943, AAF MOS 1055, 33rd Fighter Group[15]
  • 1943–1943, AAF MOS 1055, 324th Fighter Group[16]

Combat and Non-Combat Operations

  • 1943–1943, WWII - European Theater of Operations/Tunisia Campaign (1942-43)[17]
  • 1943–1943, Operation Strangle[18]
  • 1943–1943, WWII - European Theater of Operations/Sicily Campaign (1943)[19]

Awards

  • ★ Air Medal[20]
  • ★ Purple Heart

[21]

Death

On July 2, 1943, White and the 99th Fighter Squadron flew a forty-eight P-40 escort mission to protect twelve B-25 bombers en route to a German Luftwaffe base in Sicily. Mediterranean.[22] During the encounter with Luftwaffe FW-190 aircraft, 99th squadron pilot Lt. Charles B. Hall became the first African American pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft. Though the squadron successfully escorted the bombers who destroyed the German Luftwaffe base, White and fellow pilot Lt. James L. McCullin failed to return to their base in Tunisia. Only July 3, 1943, the Royal Air Force sent a plane to search the flight route to no avail. A week later, the U.S. Department of War sent "missing in action" letters to White aand McCullin's families. Several weeks later, after finding no trace of both men, the War Department "We regret to inform you" notices to the men's families. No traces of White and McCullin or their planes have ever been found.

On Jul 4, 1944, the War Department officially declared White dead. Both White and Lt. James L. McCullin were believed to have been among the first African American pilots killed during an aerial combat mission.[23][24][25]

Though White's final resting place is unknown, his name is listed on the Tablet of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunisia. White was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.[26]

Legacy

  • Since World War II, there have been several erroneous accounts ascribing White and McCullin's disappearance and/or death as attributed to a mid-air collision or take-off crash in Tunisia.[27] Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). [28]
  • In 1946, the all-white Civitan Club of Montgomery, Alabama invited all next-of-kin to a memorial to honor Montgomery County citizens who lost their lives during World War II. When White's parents' arrived, they were refused seating based on their race. The Whites left before the ceremony began. Several weeks later a Civitan leader made a private apology to the Whites. No public apology was ever made.[29][30][31] White Sr. and Nettie had xx other children: Willa, James, and Samson.[32]
  • In 2004, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Historical Preservation and Promotion Foundation & the Alabama Historical Association erected a historical marker at the intersection of West Jeff Davis Avenue and Adeline Street, near White's childhood home.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  2. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: Brooks, Sidney P., 2nd Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=172037
  4. ^ St. Louis Today. "Lt. Sherman H. White Jr. among first killed in action." Erica Smith. September 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-sherman-h-white-jr-among-first-killed-in-action/article_13c22f5a-5ee3-11df-9300-0017a4a78c22.html
  5. ^ Caver, J., Ennels, J., & Newton, W. (2008). SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT REGARDING LIEUTENANTS WHITE AND McCULLIN, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. Air Power History, 55(3), 4-11. Retrieved July 19, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26275019
  6. ^ The Historical Marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  7. ^ The Historical marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  8. ^ The Historical marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  9. ^ Caver, J., Ennels, J., & Newton, W. (2008). SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT REGARDING LIEUTENANTS WHITE AND McCULLIN, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. Air Power History, 55(3), 4-11. Retrieved July 19, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26275019
  10. ^ The Historical Marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  11. ^ The Historical marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  12. ^ St. Louis Today. "Lt. Sherman H. White Jr. among first killed in action." Erica Smith. September 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-sherman-h-white-jr-among-first-killed-in-action/article_13c22f5a-5ee3-11df-9300-0017a4a78c22.html
  13. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  14. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  15. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  16. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  17. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  18. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  19. ^ Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: White, Sherman Windham, Jr., 1st Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=171735&source=fold3
  20. ^ Honor States. "Sherman Windham White Jr." https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=13878
  21. ^ The University of Chicago. "UChicago alumni among ranks of the Tuskegee Airmen: A look at some of the Airmen who attended the University of Chicago." Michael Drapa. https://www.uchicago.edu/features/uchicago_alumni_among_ranks_of_the_tuskegee_airmen/
  22. ^ Caver, J., Ennels, J., & Newton, W. (2008). SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT REGARDING LIEUTENANTS WHITE AND McCULLIN, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. Air Power History, 55(3), 4-11. Retrieved July 19, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26275019
  23. ^ St. Louis Today. "Lt. Sherman H. White Jr. among first killed in action." Erica Smith. September 26, 2009. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/lt-sherman-h-white-jr-among-first-killed-in-action/article_13c22f5a-5ee3-11df-9300-0017a4a78c22.html
  24. ^ Caver, J., Ennels, J., & Newton, W. (2008). SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT REGARDING LIEUTENANTS WHITE AND McCULLIN, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. Air Power History, 55(3), 4-11. Retrieved July 19, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26275019
  25. ^ The Historical Marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  26. ^ The University of Chicago. "UChicago alumni among ranks of the Tuskegee Airmen: A look at some of the Airmen who attended the University of Chicago." Michael Drapa. https://www.uchicago.edu/features/uchicago_alumni_among_ranks_of_the_tuskegee_airmen/
  27. ^ "The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation". Charles E. Francis. Francis' book stated that White and McCullin crashed and were killed during take-off on July 2, 1943 in Tunisia.
  28. ^ The Lonely Eagles: The Story of America's Black Air Force in World War II. January 1, 1980. Robert A. Rose.
  29. ^ Alabama Heritage. "Patriots of Color: An Alabama Family in the Good War." Wesley Phillips Newton. , Issue 69, 2006.
  30. ^ Caver, J., Ennels, J., & Newton, W. (2008). SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT REGARDING LIEUTENANTS WHITE AND McCULLIN, TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. Air Power History, 55(3), 4-11. Retrieved July 19, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26275019
  31. ^ The Historical Marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  32. ^ The Historical marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
  33. ^ 694 West Jeff Davis Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County - 32° 21.972′ N, 86° 19.173′ W. The Historical marker Database. "Sherman W. White, Jr. (1919 - 1943) — First Lieutenant, 99th Fighter Squadron." https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71084
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