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General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. (1912 – 2002) Lt. Gen. Davis Jr. played a vital role in opening up the skies and the entire military for Black Soldiers. In 1932, he entered West Point as the first Black cadet to attend in the 20th century. In 1942, he earned his wings and fulfilled his dream of becoming a pilot. He became the commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first all-Black unit in the Army Air Forces, which would later become famous as the Tuskegee Airmen.

• Born on Dec. 18, 1912, in Washington, D.C., to Elnora and Benjamin O. Davis Sr. His father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., was a distinguished U.S. Army officer and the first African American to achieve the rank of brigadier general.
• In 1932, Davis Jr. entered West Point as the first Black cadet to attend the academy in the 20th century. He graduated from West Point in 1936, ranking in the top 20-percent of his class. His graduation marked a significant milestone as he became only the fourth African American to graduate from the academy.
• May 1941, when his father, then Brig. Gen. Davis Sr., he played a pivotal role in convincing President Franklin Roosevelt to create an all-Black unit in the Army Air Forces. In March 1942, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. earned his pilot wings. He became the commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first all-Black unit in the Army Air Forces, which would later become famous as the Tuskegee Airmen. Davis Jr. was promoted to lieutenant colonel and led the 99th Fighter Squadron to North Africa in April 1943.
• Davis Jr. eventually attained the rank of lieutenant general before retiring from the U.S. Air Force on Feb. 1, 1970. His promotion to four-star general by President Bill Clinton on Dec. 9, 1998, marked a historic moment in recognition of his exceptional contributions.
• The Tuskegee Airmen, under the leadership of Davis Jr., went on to achieve remarkable success during World War II. They downed more enemy aircraft than they lost, destroyed vital enemy infrastructure, and safeguarded Allied bombers on critical missions. Davis Jr. played a crucial role in demonstrating the combat capabilities of Black Soldiers and paved the way for the integration of the U.S. military.