<%@ ENABLESESSIONSTATE = FALSE%> DFW Tuskegee Airmen Chapter

CLAUDE R. PLATTE DFW CHAPTER T.A.I.
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Dallas-Fort Worth Resident Tuskegee Airmen
dfw-tac-cr_platte_400-01.jpg (39695 bytes)

Captain Claude R. Platte 

Mr. Platte served as a primary flight instructor, training over 300 blacks to solo and fly PT-13’s, PT-17’s and PT-19’s. He was assigned to the 301st and the first Black officer to be trained and commissioned in the newly reopened Air Force Pilot Training Program at Randolph Field AFB, Texas the "West Point of the Air".  Some famous pilots who soared under his tutelage were: Broadwater, Boyd, and Norman Scales Sr. a Texan who flew 70 missions over enemy territories capturing the distinguished flying cross and certificate of valor.

Col. Lloyd McKeethen
Mr. McKeethan served as a chief of maintenance and was a Tuskegee pilot. When the crew did a flight check for McKeethen they really had to have chief’s plane in check. Flew the TB-25J with the 477th . He was the last of 992 pilots who trained at Tuskegee to retire from active duty after over 30 years of active military service covering World War II, the Korean Crisis and the Vietnam War.

Flight Officer  Robert T. McDaniel 

Mr. McDaniel entered the military in 1943 and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Training Program at Tuskegee Institute.  He flew the TB-25J serving his country as a Flight Officer with the 477th Bombardier Group. McDaniel suffered an unjust court marshal and was put under house arrest because of his courageous resistance against racism and segregation. The charges were eventually cleared and he was honorably restored.

Lt. Calvin J. Spann 

Mr. Spann received his wings at Tuskegee graduating in Class 44G. His trained in the P-47 Thunderbolt's in Walterboro, South Carolina in preparation for overseas combat duty. He was a member of the 100th fighter squadron which was part of the legendary 332nd Fighter Group. His commander was the Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Spann flew 26 combat missions completing his tour in Italy.
dfw-tac-elder_400.jpg (107340 bytes) Corporal Donald Elder
Mr. Elder served as a crew chief for the 99th Fighter Squadron. 
Elder was the crew chief for the P-47’s. Elder becoming the 1st Black to be assigned a field service assignment in the aviation industry’s private sector, earned him the nickname “Jackie Robinson of Aviation” from Rockwell International’s HR director Dean Chatlin.