Charles McGee (pilot)
Encyclopedia
Charles E. McGee was one of the Tuskegee Airmen
and a career officer in the United States Air Force
for 30 years. He holds an Air Force record of 409 fighter combat missions flown in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
As a youth, McGee was a member of the Boy Scouts of America
and earned the Eagle Scout
award on August 9, 1940. He later served in district and regional positions in the BSA. At the 2010 National Scout Jamboree
, he was recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
.
In March 1942, McGee was a sophomore at the University of Illinois studying engineering. On 30 June 1943, he became a part of the Tuskeegee Airmen having earned his pilot's wings
. By February 1944, he was stationed in Italy with the 332d Fighter Group. By the end of World War II, McGee had flown a total of 136 combat missions.
In 2005, McGee was part of a group of former Tuskegee Airmen, who flew to Balad, Iraq, to speak to active duty airmen serving in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, the current incarnation of the 332nd Fighter Group.
Tuskegee Airmen
The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African American pilots who fought in World War II. Formally, they were the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps....
and a career officer in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
for 30 years. He holds an Air Force record of 409 fighter combat missions flown in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
As a youth, McGee was a member of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and earned the Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
award on August 9, 1940. He later served in district and regional positions in the BSA. At the 2010 National Scout Jamboree
2010 National Scout Jamboree
The 2010 National Scout Jamboree was the 17th national Scout jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America and was held from July 26 to August 4, 2010 at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The 2010 National Scout Jamboree celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America and was the last jamboree held...
, he was recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
.
In March 1942, McGee was a sophomore at the University of Illinois studying engineering. On 30 June 1943, he became a part of the Tuskeegee Airmen having earned his pilot's wings
United States Aviator Badge
A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation....
. By February 1944, he was stationed in Italy with the 332d Fighter Group. By the end of World War II, McGee had flown a total of 136 combat missions.
In 2005, McGee was part of a group of former Tuskegee Airmen, who flew to Balad, Iraq, to speak to active duty airmen serving in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, the current incarnation of the 332nd Fighter Group.