WWII Pilot Lt. Charles Bailey, Sr., -Highest Rank, First Lieutenant - Bailey flew 133 missions across Europe and North Africa, earning an Air Medal and a Distinguished Flying Cross
One of nine brothers who distinguished themselves in the major wars of the 20th Century. Charles was the first black aviator from Florida to become a Tuskegee Airman. He is credited with shooting down two Focke-Wulf-190 German fighter planes in “Josephine,” a P-40 Warhawk named for his mother, and later in “My Buddy,” a P-51 Mustang named for his father.
“At 1425 hours (2:25 p.m.) on the afternoon of Jan. 27, 1944 Lt. Bailey caught an FW-190 headed in the general direction of Rome with a 45-degree deflection shot (from his P-40). The pilot was seen to bail out,” a 99th Squadron Mission Report reads.
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/241748
