Tuskegee Airmen: A Deep Dive

Upon arrival in North Africa, the 99th Fighter Squadron began flying the Curtiss P-40L Warhawk.  

Differing from earlier versions, the "L" was designed to be lighter and slightly faster.  The elimination of the two outer wing guns, and a reduction in fuel tank capacity allowed the aircraft to reach a top speed of 371mph.

Pilots in the 99th F.S. were assigned specific aircraft, which they often nick-named. These aircraft had a large unit code painted on the fuselage for easier identification from a distance. In the case of the 99th, these numbers typically went from A-10 through A-40. 

Due to a shortage of planes and a surplus of pilots it was not uncommon for the airmen to fly planes other than their own.  

To ensure maximum source transparency, we have created a private offline research database compiled from the 99th Fighter Squadron's certified historical mission reports, available in the National Archives and Records Administration. This database covers missions from October of 1943 through May 1944, charting relationships between individual pilots, aircraft unit codes, and documented sorties.

Please submit a request via our contact form to verify a specific pilot and aircraft history.  Note that due to historical data limitations and incomplete archival records (including missing wartime logs or degraded microfilm), definitive information cannot be guaranteed for every inquiry. 

The foundation of this database relies on translating standardized military paperwork into a comprehensive flight log. By auditing individual RAF Form 441-A combat mission reports from October 1943 through April 1944, our research compiled a data chart capturing 1,503 distinct sorties. This systematic indexing allows historians to move past generalized unit histories and analyze the exact operational frequency of individual pilots and airframes within the Mediterranean theater.

While early-war operations rarely paired specific names with equipment in official logs, subsequent reports began explicitly linking pilots to distinct aircraft markers. Our database tracks these connections through both the last three digits of an airframe tail number and the squadron's standard fuselage markings ranging from A-10 into the A-40s. This records specialized profiles, such as documenting that Willie Ashley primarily utilized aircraft A22, while Willie Fuller flew aircraft A19.

Cross-referencing these records reveals the true "workhorses" of the squadron versus planes sidelined by intensive maintenance or damage. For example, while the average number of sorties per plane sat at 48 during the surveyed period, aircraft A35, nicknamed "Eel II" and flown by Lieutenant James B. Knighten, completed a unit-high 80 sorties. In contrast, specialized airframes like A40 and A41 were recorded flying only a single time each before disappearing from active flight lines.

While one of the interesting Tuskegee-related artifacts that we have researched was the service pistol belonging to Maj. Lemuel R. Custis, there are several other items that should be shared. Many of these items were autographed by Maj. Custis and other Tuskegee Airmen. 

Released by Hasbro as a special edition in 1996 to honor the Tuskegee Airmen, both a G.I. Joe Classic Collection fighter pilot and bomber pilot figure were offered.  

This fighter pilot box was autographed by 7 pilots who went through training at Tuskegee, AL.

Top to bottom, left to right:

Maj. Lemuel Rodney Custis - Wethersfield, CT

Lt. Col. Span Watson - Mineola, NY

Lt. Col. George Hardy - Sarasota, FL

Bg. Gen. Charles McGee - Bethesda, MD

Lt. Col. Bertram Wilson - Ashford, CT

Lt. Col. James Harvey - Denver, CO

Lt. Col. Harry Stewart - Bloomfield Hills, MI

Also shown in the gallery below are two books which were autographed at Tuskegee Airmen events hosted in Connecticut during 2000 and 2001.

This literature pairing includes Captain Charles E. Francis's seminal historical work, The Tuskegee Airmen, alongside Black Knights by Lynn Homan and Thomas Reilly. Both volumes are autographed by Major Lemuel R. Custis and fellow squadron members, turning these vital reference texts into personalized primary source records for our research collection.