Jefferson, Alexander, 1921-

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1921-11-15

Biographical notes:

African American pilot, member of the Tuskegee Airmen fighter group; founding member of Tuskegee Airmen veterans group, both national organization and Detroit chapter.

From the description of Alexander Jefferson papers, 1921-2006, bulk 1944-2006. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 82182474

Ret. Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson was born 15 November 1921 in Detroit, MI. He graduated from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1942 and was working towards a Masters Degree in chemistry from Howard University in Washington, D.C. before entering the Aviation Cadet Program at Tuskegee Army Airfield, graduating in January 1944.

Jefferson fought in World War II as a P-51 fighter pilot in the famed Tuskegee Airmen segregated air force, the "Red-Tail" 332nd Fighter Group, and flew 18 long range escort missions for B-17 and B-24 bombers. Three days before the invasion of Southern France he was shot down by ground fire while strafing radar stations over Toulon, France on 12 August, 1944 and immediately captured by German troops. Jefferson spent five months in Stalag Luft III prison before being transferred to Stalag VIIA near Mooseburg, Germany by way of marching 80 kilometers in sub-zero temperatures and pressed into a "40 and 8" boxcar. Following the war Lt. Col. Jefferson served as an instrument instructor in advance training at Tuskegee Army Air Field and as a Staff Operations and Training Officer of the 9504th Air Recovery Squadron. He was discharged from active duty in 1947 and retired from the reserves in 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Alexander Jefferson earned a Masters Degree of Education from Wayne University and taught science to elementary school students in Detroit. He retired as assistant principal in 1979. Jefferson was enshrined into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Purple Heart in 2004.

The first meeting of the Tuskegee Airmen took place on 14 July 1972 when a small group of veterans gathered in the home of Alexander Jefferson. Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated has since become a large national organization with 48 chapters (as of 2006), with Jefferson serving in the organization in a variety of capacities and making numerous public appearances and speeches.

From the guide to the Alexander Jefferson papers, 1921-2006, 1944-2006, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)