Alfred Gorham

Lieutenant Colonel

Alfred M. Gorham
2nd lieutenant Alfred Gorham in 1944
Born1920
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Died2009
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army Air Forces
Years of service1942-1946
RankLieutenant colonel
Unit332nd Fighter Group
Commands301st Fighter Squadron
Awards

2nd Lt. Alfred M. Gorham (1920–2009) (POW) was a Tuskegee Airman from Waukesha, Wisconsin.[1] He was the only Tuskegee Airman from Wisconsin, and he was a prisoner of war after his plane went down over Munich, Germany in World War II.[2][3]

Military service

The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."[N 1]

After joining the Army Air Force in 1942[5] Gorham became a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen. He graduated from the Tuskegee University February 8, 1944.[6]

He saw action over Budapest Hungary and shot down two German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighters on August 3, 1944.[7]

In 1945 his P-51 had engine trouble over Munich, Germany and he bailed out. He was captured and held by the Germans until the end of the war.[2][8]

Awards

See also

Personal life

After graduating from Waukesha High School in 1938 Gorham was accepted to Carroll College. However he took a job as a precision tool grinder. He later enlisted in the army and eventually he was accepted to the Tuskegee Airmen.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Alfred Gorham Missing, Report". Waukesha Daily Freeman. March 21, 1945. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Olympian, Doctor, Tuskegee Airman Being Inducted to Wall of Fame at Waukesha South". Patch Media. August 28, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  3. ^ "List of Pilot Graduates". tuskegee. Tuskegee University. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  4. ^ Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
  5. ^ "Waukesha Co. Airport hosting RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to honor Wisconsin's only Tuskegee Airman". TRIBUNE BROADCASTING. August 29, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". redtail. CAF Red Tail Squadron. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  7. ^ "CAF Red Tail Squadron®" (PDF). Redtail. The CAF Red Tail Squadron. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. ^ Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (January 1, 2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. Montgomery, Alabama: NewSouth Books. p. 177. ISBN 978-1588382443.
  9. ^ "Public Law 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen" (PDF). Congress.gov. US Library of Congress. April 11, 2006. Retrieved November 14, 2021.

Notes

  1. ^ The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.[4]