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'''Clarence D. “Lucky” Lester''' (February 23, 1923 – March 17, 1986) was an [[African-American]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter pilot]] in the [[332nd Fighter Group]], commonly known as the [[Tuskegee Airmen]], during [[World War II]]. He was one of the first African-American military aviators in the [[United States Army Air Corps]], the [[United States Army Air Forces]] and later the [[United States Air Force]].<ref name= "Hardesty p. ">{{harvnb|Hardesty|2008|p= }}</ref><ref name= "Homan-Reilly p. 136">{{harvnb|Homan|Reilly|2001|p=136}}</ref> Lester was one of two pilots who shot down three [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]] or [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] on a single mission; the other pilot was Captain Joseph Elsberry.<ref name= "Nalty p. 153">{{harvnb|Nalty|1989|p=153}}</ref><ref name= "United States Air Force p. ">{{harvnb|United States Air Force|2012|p=}}</ref> Lester flew a [[North American P-51C Mustang|P-51 Mustang]] nicknamed "Miss Pelt."<ref name= "Hardesty p. "/>
'''Clarence D. “Lucky” Lester''' (February 23, 1923 – March 17, 1986) was an [[African-American]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter pilot]] in the [[332nd Fighter Group]], commonly known as the [[Tuskegee Airmen]], during [[World War II]]. He was one of the first African-American military aviators in the [[United States Army Air Corps]], the [[United States Army Air Forces]] and later the [[United States Air Force]].<ref name= "Hardesty p. ">{{harvnb|Hardesty|2008|p= }}</ref><ref name= "Homan-Reilly p. 136">{{harvnb|Homan|Reilly|2001|p=136}}</ref> Lester was one of two pilots who shot down three [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]] or [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]] on a single mission; the other pilot was Captain Joseph Elsberry.<ref name= "Nalty p. 153">{{harvnb|Nalty|1989|p=153}}</ref><ref name= "United States Air Force p. ">{{harvnb|United States Air Force|2012|p=}}</ref> Lester flew a [[North American P-51C Mustang|P-51 Mustang]] nicknamed "Miss Pelt."<ref name= "Hardesty p. "/>

==Early Life, Family, Education==
Lester was born on February 23, 1923 in [[Richmond, Virginia]].<ref> American Air Museum in Britain. "Clarence D Lester." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241747 </ref> Raised in [[Chicago, Illinois]], Lester attended [[West Virginia State College]] where he was a star football player.<ref> American Air Museum in Britain. "Clarence D Lester." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241747 </ref> On May 17, 1946, Lester was initiated as a fraternity brother of [[Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity]], Inc.'s Iota Chapter at the [[University of Chicago]].<ref> Watch the Yard. "Fly Nupes: Photos Of The Handsome And Daring Men Of Kappa Alpha Psi Who Served As Tuskegee Airmen." https://www.watchtheyard.com/kappas/tuskegee-airmen/14/ </ref>


==World War II==
==World War II==

The [[Tuskegee Airmen]] is the popular name of a group of [[African-American]] military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in [[World War II]]. They formed the [[332nd FG|332nd Fighter Group]] and the [[477th Fighter Group|477th Bombardment Group]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. The name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel. Lester recalls that "Being a black pilot in the 1940s was like being a pro athlete today ... We knew we were special, that we would have to prove something. This was the first chance blacks had had outside of working in the kitchen or the possiblity [sic] of being a truck driver."<ref name= "Campbell p. ">{{harvnb|Campbell|1983|p=}}</ref> White pilots would fly around 50 combat missions but because there were no replacements, black pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen flew around 70 missions.<ref name= "Gubert-Sawyer-Fannin p. 198">{{harvnb|Gubert|Sawyer|Fannin|2002|p=198}}</ref> During the war he flew over 90 combat missions.<ref name= "Viera p. ">{{harvnb|Viera|2018|p=}}</ref>
The [[Tuskegee Airmen]] is the popular name of a group of [[African-American]] military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in [[World War II]]. They formed the [[332nd FG|332nd Fighter Group]] and the [[477th Fighter Group|477th Bombardment Group]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. The name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel. Lester recalls that "Being a black pilot in the 1940s was like being a pro athlete today ... We knew we were special, that we would have to prove something. This was the first chance blacks had had outside of working in the kitchen or the possiblity [sic] of being a truck driver."<ref name= "Campbell p. ">{{harvnb|Campbell|1983|p=}}</ref> White pilots would fly around 50 combat missions but because there were no replacements, black pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen flew around 70 missions.<ref name= "Gubert-Sawyer-Fannin p. 198">{{harvnb|Gubert|Sawyer|Fannin|2002|p=198}}</ref> During the war he flew over 90 combat missions.<ref name= "Viera p. ">{{harvnb|Viera|2018|p=}}</ref>


==After the WWII==
==After the WWII==

While flying an [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet|F-84E Thunderjet]] it experienced mechanical failure and exploded into flames forcing Lester to yank his ejection seat and parachute from the inflamed jet, which made him "only the sixth pilot ever to use the ejection method."<ref name= "Viera p. "/> Later in his career he also worked with the infamous "Whiz kids" that Robert McNamara assembled at the [[Office of the Secretary of Defense]].<ref name= "Gubert-Sawyer-Fannin p. 198"/> In 1969 Lester retired as a full colonel and was then appointed as associate director of social services in Rockville, Maryland.<ref name= "Gubert-Sawyer-Fannin p. 198"/>
While flying an [[Republic F-84 Thunderjet|F-84E Thunderjet]] it experienced mechanical failure and exploded into flames forcing Lester to yank his ejection seat and parachute from the inflamed jet, which made him "only the sixth pilot ever to use the ejection method."<ref name= "Viera p. "/> Later in his career he also worked with the infamous "Whiz kids" that Robert McNamara assembled at the [[Office of the Secretary of Defense]].<ref name= "Gubert-Sawyer-Fannin p. 198"/> In 1969 Lester retired as a full colonel and was then appointed as associate director of social services in Rockville, Maryland.<ref name= "Gubert-Sawyer-Fannin p. 198"/>


Revision as of 00:12, 21 July 2021

Clarence D. Lester
Lt Clarence Lester (right) with P-51 Mustang Group Fliers in Italy, 1944
Nickname(s)Lucky
Born(1923-02-23)February 23, 1923
Richmond, Richmond City, Virginia, US
DiedMarch 17, 1986(1986-03-17) (aged 63)
Washington, District of Columbia, District Of Columbia, US
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, US
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Forces
 United States Air Force
Years of service1942-1969
RankColonel
Unit322nd Fighter Squadron
Tuskegee Airmen
Battles/warsWorld War II

Clarence D. “Lucky” Lester (February 23, 1923 – March 17, 1986) was an African-American fighter pilot in the 332nd Fighter Group, commonly known as the Tuskegee Airmen, during World War II. He was one of the first African-American military aviators in the United States Army Air Corps, the United States Army Air Forces and later the United States Air Force.[1][2] Lester was one of two pilots who shot down three Focke-Wulf Fw 190 or Messerschmitt Bf 109 on a single mission; the other pilot was Captain Joseph Elsberry.[3][4] Lester flew a P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Miss Pelt."[1]

Early Life, Family, Education

Lester was born on February 23, 1923 in Richmond, Virginia.[5] Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Lester attended West Virginia State College where he was a star football player.[6] On May 17, 1946, Lester was initiated as a fraternity brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.'s Iota Chapter at the University of Chicago.[7]

World War II

The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African-American military pilots (fighter and bomber) who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces. The name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel. Lester recalls that "Being a black pilot in the 1940s was like being a pro athlete today ... We knew we were special, that we would have to prove something. This was the first chance blacks had had outside of working in the kitchen or the possiblity [sic] of being a truck driver."[8] White pilots would fly around 50 combat missions but because there were no replacements, black pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen flew around 70 missions.[9] During the war he flew over 90 combat missions.[10]

After the WWII

While flying an F-84E Thunderjet it experienced mechanical failure and exploded into flames forcing Lester to yank his ejection seat and parachute from the inflamed jet, which made him "only the sixth pilot ever to use the ejection method."[10] Later in his career he also worked with the infamous "Whiz kids" that Robert McNamara assembled at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.[9] In 1969 Lester retired as a full colonel and was then appointed as associate director of social services in Rockville, Maryland.[9]

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ^ a b Hardesty 2008
  2. ^ Homan & Reilly 2001, p. 136
  3. ^ Nalty 1989, p. 153
  4. ^ United States Air Force 2012
  5. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Clarence D Lester." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241747
  6. ^ American Air Museum in Britain. "Clarence D Lester." http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241747
  7. ^ Watch the Yard. "Fly Nupes: Photos Of The Handsome And Daring Men Of Kappa Alpha Psi Who Served As Tuskegee Airmen." https://www.watchtheyard.com/kappas/tuskegee-airmen/14/
  8. ^ Campbell 1983
  9. ^ a b c Gubert, Sawyer & Fannin 2002, p. 198
  10. ^ a b Viera 2018

References

  • Campbell, Crispin Y. (February 23, 1983). "Black Pilots Of '40s Charted New Horizons". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  • Gubert, Betty Kaplan; Sawyer, Miriam; Fannin, Caroline M (2002). Distinguished African Americans in Aviation and Space Science. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9781573562461. - Total pages: 319
  • Hardesty, Von (2008). Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061261381. - Total pages: 180
  • Homan, Lynn; Reilly, Thomas (2001). Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Pelican Publishing Company. ISBN 9781455601257. - Total pages: 336
  • Nalty, Bernard C. (1989). Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780029224113. - Total pages: 424
  • United States Air Force (February 8, 2012). "Tuskegee Airman gives account of 'lucky' day". United States Air Force. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  • Viera, Bené (April 12, 2018). "This black fighter pilot broke all kinds of records. He doesn't even have a Wikipedia page". timeline.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
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