Edward L. Toppins

Edward Lucien Toppins (June 12, 1915 – December 10, 1946) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, commanding officer of the 602nd Air Engineering Squadron, and a celebrated African-American World War II fighter pilot within the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots. He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

Toppins is considered one of the best pilots to have emerged from the Tuskegee program. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 5 clusters, a Victory Medal, an Eastern Theater Offensive Ribbon with 7 battle stars, and an American Defense recognition. Known among by his peers as a "pilot's pilot" and "almost a daredevil," Toppins completed 141 missions, destroying four enemy aircraft with one probable. None of these Tuskegee Airmen were officially credited with the coveted fifth “kill” which would place a fighter pilot in the “ace” category.

Early life, education, family Toppins was born in Mississippi on June 12, 1915, to Martha E. Toppins Davis, a dressmaker. He was the only brother of three sisters: Henrietta Toppins Whitby, Delphine, and Naomi. After living in Louisiana in the 1930s, Toppins moved with his mother and sisters to Los Angeles, California where Martha worked as a maid to a wealthy family.

After graduating from Los Angeles Junior College, Toppins enrolled at the University of San Francisco while also working as a Greyhound Bus Company porter. His tours included Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, Bulgaria, Southern France, Austria, Greece, Poland, and Yugoslavia.

Toppins and fellow Red Tail Leonard M. Jackson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions on June 4, 1944, pursuant to a Fifteenth Air Force General Order 4041 -dated October 19, 1944, and a Fifteenth Air Force General Order 4876 - dated 5 Dec 5, 1944.

On July 26, 1944, Toppins, now a Captain, destroyed an enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft while his squadron escorted the 47th Bombardment Wing on a bombing mission against the Markersdorf airdrome in Austria. This event marked Toppins' fourth kill, giving him more kills than any other Red Tail pilot at that time. "Captain Edward Toppins Ct" in the predominantly African American town of Fort Washington, Maryland in Prince George's County is named for Toppins.