~ R. W. NORTON ART GALLERY ~ ~ INTRO ~ ~ SEARCH ~
Image
0565-W2M-07/2012
Thomas L. Richardson, Sergeant
U. S. Army
Dates of Service: 11/26/1943 - 04/08/1946
Airplane Armorer/Gunner, 618th Bomb Sq
http://www.oralhistory.ws/tpl/norton_audio.php?file=dd3ecbb7a6f573c37dd30b43d61ce336e8cb27dd.mp3
Dr. Richardson earned a PhD from Pennsylvania State University and taught for more than 50 years at Grambling University. As an African-American in the army air forces in World War II, however, it appeared he, nor many other blacks combatants, including the famed Tuskegee Airmen, would never leave the States for the warfront. Major African-American newspapers, however, pressured the White House, and finally military hierarchy reluctantly released the 99th Pursuit Squadron of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, which also included the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group to Italy. There they earned a stellar reputation. The war ended before Dr. Richardson, who was trained as a tail gunner in the 477th, was posted overseas.