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Alfred Gorham

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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 aTuskegee AirmanfromWaukesha, Wisconsin.[1]He was the only Tuskegee Airman from Wisconsin, and he was aprisoner of warafter his plane went down overMunich, GermanyinWorld War II.[2][3]

Military service

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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 theTuskegee UniversityFebruary 8, 1944.[6]

He saw action over Budapest Hungary and shot down two GermanFocke-Wulf Fw 190 Fighterson 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

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See also

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Personal life

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After graduating from Waukesha High School in 1938 Gorham was accepted toCarroll 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

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  1. ^ab"Alfred Gorham Missing, Report".Waukesha Daily Freeman. March 21, 1945.RetrievedAugust 30,2019.
  2. ^abc"Olympian, Doctor, Tuskegee Airman Being Inducted to Wall of Fame at Waukesha South".Patch Media. August 28, 2012.RetrievedAugust 30,2019.
  3. ^"List of Pilot Graduates".tuskegee.Tuskegee University.RetrievedAugust 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.RetrievedAugust 30,2019.
  6. ^"The Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster".redtail.CAF Red Tail Squadron.RetrievedAugust 30,2019.
  7. ^"CAF Red Tail Squadron®"(PDF).Redtail.The CAF Red Tail Squadron. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on August 30, 2019.RetrievedAugust 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.ISBN978-1588382443.
  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.RetrievedNovember 14,2021.

Notes

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  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]
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