Alfonza W. Davis

Alfonza W. Davis (August 20, 1919 – October 29, 1944) was the first African-American aviator from North Omaha, Nebraska, to be awarded his "wings." He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a recipient of the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Distinguished Unit Citation. Davis was assumed to be dead after going missing on or about October 29, 1944, on a mission over the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy.

Early life

Davis was born in Pensacola, Florida, on August 20, 1919, and after his mother died in 1920, he moved with his father and brother to North Omaha, Nebraska. Davis graduated valedictorian from Omaha's Technical High School in 1937 and went on to attend Creighton University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree in 1941. At Creighton, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Career

Davis joined the United States Army on March 17, 1941. He later volunteered for the Army Air Corps in July 1942, and was appointed an aviation cadet. He received his flight training at Tuskegee Army Airfield, Alabama, becoming the first African American from Omaha to graduate and earn his wings. Davis graduated in Class SE-43-C on March 25, 1943, and was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332d Fighter Group. He was later the 332nd’s Assistant Group Operations Officer. The 332d was an all African American unit, known as the "Red Tails" because of their group’s distinctive identification colors. He achieved the rank of captain, flying the P-39, P-47 and P-51 Mustang escort fighters.

Davis’ last assignment was the squadron commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron. During the war, the 99th destroyed 83 German aircraft. While on a reconnaissance mission to Munich, Germany, on October 29, 1944, flying P-51D-10-NA #44-14465, Davis was last sighted at 1245 hours over the northern Adriatic Sea in overcast weather conditions at approximately 45°22'59"N 13°9'59"E; he never returned to base. A Missing Air Crew Report (#9586) was produced, and the War Department later issued a presumptive finding of death while missing in action on October 30, 1945.

Davis' awards and decorations included a Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, a Distinguished Unit Citation, and the French Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with Palm. He was credited with one aerial victory in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations on July 16, 1944. The Tuskegee Airmen were later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2006.