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Jet Magazine March 5, 1958 Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. was born on December 18, 1912 in Washington D.C. After high school he attended the University of Chicago and then went on to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point and became the academy's 4th black graduate. Davis was the second African-American general in the U.S air force following in his father's footsteps who was the first. When Davis originally applied to the Army air Corps he was rejected because of his race but in 1941 Roosevelt ordered the War Department to create a black flying unit and Davis was assigned to the first training class. During his service Davis flew 60 combat missions and was promoted to colonel. After retiring in 1970 he was named director of civil aviation security where he effectively ended a wave of aircraft hijackings. Davis received many decorations both during his career and after his retirement including two Distinguished Service Medals and a silver star.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_O._Davis_Jr. And https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-O-Davis-Jr
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_O._Davis_Jr. And https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-O-Davis-Jr