Richmond in Madison County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Richmond's Tuskegee Airmen
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025
1. Richmond's Tuskegee Airmen Marker
Inscription.
Richmond's Tuskegee Airmen. .
A Brief History of the Tuskegee Airmen. Formed on March 19, 1942, the United States War Department established the 99th Pursuit Squadron along with other squadrons (100th, 301st, 302nd) which became the new 332nd Fighter Group, Tuskegee Airmen - America's first Black military airmen. There were 992 pilots and nearly 14,000 others trained as navigators, bombardiers, instructors, aircraft and engine mechanics, control tower operators along with maintenance and support staff. Pilots flew P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolts, P-51 Mustang fighters and B-25 Mitchell bombers. Their main tasks were escorting and defending Allied bombers on missions over Europe during World War II, which they performed in an exemplary fashion., Many of their plane's vertical stabilizers were painted red, earning them the nickname of "Red Tails". The Airmen flew a total of 1,578 missions, with 66 airmen killed in combat. Thirty-two were captured as POW's after being shot down. "Red Tails" destroyed 36 German aircraft in the air and 237 on the ground, knocked out over 600 railroad cars, and 40 boats and barges. Tuskegee Airmen were awarded 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, 3 Distinguished Unit Citations and 744 Air Medals and Clusters. With the desegregation of the military in 1948, the Tuskegee Airmen ceased to exist as individual units.,
Depicted on the mural is First Lieutenant Frank Douglas Walker..
Below are the biographies of seven Richmond High School (1898 - 1956) students who served with and in support of the Tuskegee Airmen.. First Lientenant Frank D. Walker 1919 - 2013 Walker entered the U. S. Army Air Force at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on April 15, 1942. He was selected to begin the difficult training to become a combat pilot. Walker earned his wings and was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, 301st Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen., Walker flew 55 missions escorting and defending bombers over Europe, in the Po Valley, Rome-Arno, the Northern Apennines, and southern France. On one of his missions the gas tank in the right wing of his aircraft caught fire upon takeoff. He suffered burns to his hands and face. Within one month, he was back in the cockpit., Walker separated from the military on November 1, 1945 and became the first African American mail carrier with the U. S. Postal Service in Richmond, Kentucky., Walker's recognitions include: a Kentucky Colonel commission in 2006, East Main Street given the alternate name of Frank D. Walker Parkway, and the 2007 Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal., Walker's brother, First Lieutenant William Mitchell Walker, also served with the Tuskegee Airmen. Walker is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Richmond, Kentucky., Technical Sergeant Donald H. Dillingham 1927 - 2004 Dillingham entered the U. S. Army Air Corps on November 26, 1945 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He completed his high school education while in the military., Dillingham served with the Tuskegee Airmen from enlistment to December 1, 1946 as an Airplane Maintenance Technician. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal., Dillingham re-enlisted in the U. S. Air Force on December 6, 1948 and completed 20 years of service on May 9, 1966., After retiring from the military, Dillingham worked at General Motors in Dayton, Ohio and is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio., Private First Class Robert A. Ferrell 1916 - 2000 Ferrell was an exceptional athlete, being chosen as the first All-State basketball player from Richmond High School., On October 2, 1942, Ferrell entered military service at Fort Thomas, Kentucky as a truck driver in support of the Tuskegee Airmen. Ferrell participated in several important World War Il campaigns in Italy, including Naples-Foggia (August 18, 1943 - January 21, 1944) and Rome-Arno (January 22, 1944 - September 9, 1944)., Ferrell received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars and the world war two Victory Medal., After separating from the service in December 25, 1945, he married Private First Class Carolyn Isabelle Runyon (Tuskegee Nurse Cadet). They lived in Dayton, Ohio where Ferrell worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a Refueling Specialist. Ferrell is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio., Sergeant John S. Harris 1924 - 1984 Harris was a member of the 1943 Richmond High School state champion basketball team., Harris entered the Army Air Forces on September 4, 1943 and was assigned to the Tuskegee Training Program. Harris completed the Army Aviation Student program in 1945. His unit flew training missions in the U. S., but never participated in combat., After separating from the military in 1946, Harris graduated Cum Laude from Kentucky State College in 1950. He briefly taught high school in Atlanta before working for Schlitz Brewing Company as a District Sales Manager and Director of Sales, and later as a bank officer at First Wisconsin National Bank., Harris is buried in the South View Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia., Private First Chass Carolyn I. Runyon 1923 - 2006 Runyon entered the Tuskegee Institute Cadet Nurse Corps in late 1942, and graduated from the 30-month training program in May 1945., Congress established the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps in 1943 under the administration of the U. S. Public Health Service to meet the increasing demand for nurses during World War II. The nation-wide program graduated over 124,065 nurses in its five-year existence., Runyon was assigned to military and civilian hospitals for the duration of the war. After completion of her obligation she moved to Dayton, Ohio and married Tuskegee Institute graduate Private First Class Robert Arron Ferrell in 1953. Runyon had a very successful nursing career, earning a Master's degree in nursing 1963 from the University of Dayton and became a head nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dayton, Ohio., Runyon is the sister of First Lieutenant Eugene Louis Runyon Sr. She is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio., First Lieutenant Eugene L. Runyon 1921 - 2002 Runyon entered the U. S. Army Air Corps on February 26, 1944. After successfully completing navigation training in primary basic flight, along with precision bombing and aerial gunnery, he was assigned to the 477th Composite Group (Air Corps), one of four Tuskegee Airmen Bombardment Groups during World War II. The 477th Group trained on the B-25 Mitchell bombers., Runyon completed his required service on March 20, 1946 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, and was discharged with the World War II Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal., Runyon graduated from Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio with a doctoral degree in Industrial Psychology. He held professorships at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, North Carolina A and T University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio where he was chair of the Psychology Department., Runyon is the brother of Private First Class Carolyn Runyon (Tuskegee Nurse Cadet). He is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio., First Lieutenant William M. Walker 1915 - 1984 Walker entered the U. S. Army Air Corps on October 2, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an administrative and technical clerk. Walker was later promoted to the rank of sergeant. He graduated from the Army Air Force Officer Candidate School and was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant Corps as an Administrative Officer assigned to the Tuskegee Army-Air Field. On March 4, 1944, Walker was promoted to First Lieutenant., Walker earned the American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and AT Ribbon., Walker separated from service on May 15, 1946 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He moved to Columbus, Ohio and was employed by the U. S. government as a correspondent clerk for an insurance company., Walker's brother is First Lieutenant Frank Douglas Walker. He is buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio., (Sidebar):Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Approved by the U. S. Congress in 2006 and presented on March 29, 2007 by President George W. Bush to the remaining 300 Tuskegee Airmen., On one side are three Tuskegee Airmen in profile: an officer, a mechanic, and a pilot with the eagle symbolizing flight. The years 1941-1949 represent the years the Airmen were assigned to segregated units.
A Brief History of the Tuskegee Airmen
Formed on March 19, 1942, the United States War Department established the 99th Pursuit Squadron along with other squadrons (100th, 301st, 302nd) which became the new 332nd Fighter Group, Tuskegee Airmen - America's first Black military airmen. There were 992 pilots and nearly 14,000 others trained as navigators, bombardiers, instructors, aircraft and engine mechanics, control tower operators along with maintenance and support staff. Pilots flew P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thunderbolts, P-51 Mustang fighters and B-25 Mitchell bombers. Their main tasks were escorting and defending Allied bombers on missions over Europe during World War II, which they performed in an exemplary fashion.
Many of their plane's vertical stabilizers were painted red, earning them the nickname of "Red Tails". The Airmen flew a total of 1,578 missions, with 66 airmen killed in combat. Thirty-two were captured as POW's after being shot down. "Red Tails" destroyed 36 German aircraft in the air and 237 on the ground, knocked out over 600 railroad cars, and 40 boats and barges. Tuskegee Airmen were awarded 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 8 Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, 3 Distinguished Unit Citations and 744 Air Medals and Clusters. With the desegregation of the military in 1948, the Tuskegee
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Airmen ceased to exist as individual units.
Depicted on the mural is First Lieutenant Frank Douglas Walker.
Below are the biographies of seven Richmond High School (1898 - 1956) students who served with and in support of the Tuskegee Airmen.
First Lientenant Frank D. Walker
1919 - 2013
Walker entered the U. S. Army Air Force at Fort Thomas, Kentucky on April 15, 1942. He was selected to begin the difficult training to become a combat pilot. Walker earned his wings and was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, 301st Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Walker flew 55 missions escorting and defending bombers over Europe, in the Po Valley, Rome-Arno, the Northern Apennines, and southern France. On one of his missions the gas tank in the right wing of his aircraft caught fire upon takeoff. He suffered burns to his hands and face. Within one month, he was back in the cockpit.
Walker separated from the military on November 1, 1945 and became the first African American mail carrier with the U. S. Postal Service in Richmond, Kentucky.
Walker's recognitions include: a Kentucky Colonel commission in 2006, East Main Street given the alternate name of Frank D. Walker Parkway, and the 2007 Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal.
Walker's brother, First Lieutenant
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025
2. Richmond's Tuskegee Airmen Marker
The First Lieutenant Frank Douglas Walker mural is in the background.
William Mitchell Walker, also served with the Tuskegee Airmen. Walker is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Richmond, Kentucky.
Technical Sergeant Donald H. Dillingham
1927 - 2004
Dillingham entered the U. S. Army Air Corps on November 26, 1945 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He completed his high school education while in the military.
Dillingham served with the Tuskegee Airmen from enlistment to December 1, 1946 as an Airplane Maintenance Technician. He earned the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Dillingham re-enlisted in the U. S. Air Force on December 6, 1948 and completed 20 years of service on May 9, 1966.
After retiring from the military, Dillingham worked at General Motors in Dayton, Ohio and is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio.
Private First Class Robert A. Ferrell
1916 - 2000
Ferrell was an exceptional athlete, being chosen as the first All-State basketball player from Richmond High School.
On October 2, 1942, Ferrell entered military service at Fort Thomas, Kentucky as a truck driver in support of the Tuskegee Airmen. Ferrell participated in several important World War Il campaigns in Italy, including Naples-Foggia (August 18, 1943 - January 21, 1944) and Rome-Arno (January 22, 1944 - September 9, 1944).
Ferrell received
the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Stars and the WWII Victory Medal.
After separating from the service in December 25, 1945, he married Private First Class Carolyn Isabelle Runyon (Tuskegee Nurse Cadet). They lived in Dayton, Ohio where Ferrell worked at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a Refueling Specialist. Ferrell is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio.
Sergeant John S. Harris
1924 - 1984
Harris was a member of the 1943 Richmond High School state champion basketball team.
Harris entered the Army Air Forces on September 4, 1943 and was assigned to the Tuskegee Training Program. Harris completed the Army Aviation Student program in 1945. His unit flew training missions in the U. S., but never participated in combat.
After separating from the military in 1946, Harris graduated Cum Laude from Kentucky State College in 1950. He briefly taught high school in Atlanta before working for Schlitz Brewing Company as a District Sales Manager and Director of Sales, and later as a bank officer at First Wisconsin National Bank.
Harris is buried in the South View Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Private First Chass Carolyn I. Runyon
1923 - 2006
Runyon entered the Tuskegee Institute Cadet Nurse Corps in late 1942, and graduated from the 30-month training program in May 1945.
Congress established the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps in 1943 under the administration of the U. S. Public Health Service to meet the increasing demand for nurses during World War II. The nation-wide program graduated over 124,065 nurses in its five-year existence.
Runyon was assigned to military and civilian hospitals for the duration of the war. After completion of her obligation she moved to Dayton, Ohio and married Tuskegee Institute graduate Private First Class Robert Arron Ferrell in 1953. Runyon had a very successful nursing career, earning a Master's degree in nursing 1963 from the University of Dayton and became a head nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
Runyon is the sister of First Lieutenant Eugene Louis Runyon Sr. She is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio.
First Lieutenant Eugene L. Runyon
1921 - 2002
Runyon entered the U. S. Army Air Corps on February 26, 1944. After successfully completing navigation training in primary basic flight, along with precision bombing and aerial gunnery, he was assigned to the 477th Composite Group (Air Corps), one of four Tuskegee Airmen Bombardment Groups during World War II. The 477th Group trained on the B-25 Mitchell bombers.
Runyon completed his required service on March 20, 1946 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, and was discharged with the World War II Theater Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal.
Runyon graduated from Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio with a doctoral degree in Industrial Psychology. He held professorships at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, North Carolina A & T University in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio where he was chair of the Psychology Department.
Runyon is the brother of Private First Class Carolyn Runyon (Tuskegee Nurse Cadet). He is buried in the Dayton National Cemetery in Ohio.
First Lieutenant William M. Walker
1915 - 1984
Walker entered the U. S. Army Air Corps on October 2, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an administrative and technical clerk. Walker was later promoted to the rank of sergeant. He graduated from the Army Air Force Officer Candidate School and was appointed Second Lieutenant in the Adjutant Corps as an Administrative Officer assigned to the Tuskegee Army-Air Field. On March 4, 1944, Walker was promoted to First Lieutenant.
Walker earned the American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and AT Ribbon.
Walker separated from service on May 15, 1946 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He moved to Columbus, Ohio and was employed by the U. S. government as a correspondent clerk for an insurance company.
Walker's brother is First Lieutenant Frank Douglas Walker. He is buried in the Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.
(Sidebar): Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal
Approved by the U. S. Congress in 2006 and presented on March 29, 2007 by President George W. Bush to the remaining 300 Tuskegee Airmen.
On one side are three Tuskegee Airmen in profile: an officer, a mechanic, and a pilot with the eagle symbolizing flight. The years 1941-1949 represent the years the Airmen were assigned to segregated units.
Location. 37° 44.974′ N, 84° 17.937′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Kentucky, in Madison County. It is on 5th Street just north of West Main Street (Business U.S. 25), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 59 5th Street, Richmond KY 40475, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 28, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 135 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 28, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
