Columbus in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Tuskegee Airmen

By William Fischer, Jr., October 14, 2008

1. Tuskegee Airmen Marker

Inscription. The “Tuskegee Experience,” a program of the Army Air Corps to train African Americans as military pilots, began at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama in 1941. At home and abroad during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen prevailed against enormous odds, including racism. The Airmen never lost an escorted bomber to enemy fighters. In March 1946, the Tuskegee Airmen 477th Composite Group and its supporting units were transferred from Godman Field, Kentucky, to Lockbourne Army Air Base, where Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. took command. In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order Number 9981, which mandated "equality of treatment and opportunity in the armed forces.” The Tuskegee Airmen played a major role in the integration of all U.S. military forces. The 477th was stationed at Lockbourne until 1949.

Erected 2003 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 74-25.)

Marker series. This marker is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection marker series.

Location. 39° 49.101′ N, 82° 56.296′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Ohio, in Franklin County. Marker is on Johns Circle,

Tuskegee Airmen and Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Markers image. Click for full size.

By William Fischer, Jr., October 14, 2008

2. Tuskegee Airmen and Captain Eddie Rickenbacker Markers

on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in walkway between parking lot and passenger terminal of Rickenbacker International Airport. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2241 Johns Circle, Columbus OH 43217, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (here, next to this marker); F-100D "Super Sabre" (approx. half a mile away); F-84F "Thunderstreak" (approx. half a mile away); A-7D "Corsair II" (approx. half a mile away); Historic Lockbourne (approx. 1.7 miles away); Ohio-Erie Canal and Locks / The Columbus Feeder Canal (approx. 1.9 miles away); Lockbourne Veterans' Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Groveport Veterans' Park (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Tuskegee Airmen. (Submitted on October 15, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Categories. • African Americans • Air & Space • Civil Rights • War, World II •

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Stone image. Click for full size.

By Mike Wintermantel, June 27, 2014

3. Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Stone

Home of the Tuskegee Airmen Lockbourne A.F.B.
1946-1949

By Mike Wintermantel, June 27, 2014

4. Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Stone

Stone is located at the intersection of B Avenue and Alum Creek Road.
39.824209,-82.934312

Grave of Colonel (later General) Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., mentioned on the marker. image. Click for full size.

By J. Makali Bruton, October 10, 2016

5. Grave of Colonel (later General) Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., mentioned on the marker.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
General
United States Air Force
December 12, 1902-July 4, 2002

His beloved wife
Agatha S. Davis
January 23, 1908-March 10, 2002

The grave is located at Section 2, E-311, Arlington National Cemetery. His father, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., is buried some meters away in the same section, E-478-B.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2016. This page originally submitted on October 15, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,660 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on November 23, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2008, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3, 4. submitted on June 27, 2014, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on October 10, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Querétaro, Mexico. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.