United States Navy B-1 Band

The United Statess Navy B-1 Band was the first all-African American Navy Band during World War II. In 1942, the best African American musicians from the state of North Carolina were assembled and the band was formed in Raleight on May 27. The recruits became the "first blacks to serve in the navy in anything other than galley positions" (Albright, A., 1986). The band was stationed in Chapel Hill, N.C. and their talent was offered to help relieve the stress of pilot trainees learning combat flying. In May 1944 the band was transferred to sea duty in Hawaii for the duration of the war.