Cole County History: Pre-WWII pilot program prepared Lincoln University students for Tuskegee

<p>Photo from Lincoln Archive 1942 yearbook</p><p>Lincoln University hosted five classes of 10 men each to learn primary flight at the Jefferson City Airport through the Civilian Pilot Training program, prior to the U.S.’ entry into World War II.</p>

Photo from Lincoln Archive 1942 yearbook

Lincoln University hosted five classes of 10 men each to learn primary flight at the Jefferson City Airport through the Civilian Pilot Training program, prior to the U.S.’ entry into World War II.

Before World War II, the U.S. had few military pilots and no aviation units for black soldiers. The Civilian Pilot Training program was initiated to increase civilian pilot numbers and led to the creation of the US Army Air Corps' segregated unit, known commonly as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Lincoln University hosted the only CPT for black pilots west of the Mississippi River. And at least 15 of its 50 students went on to be part of the barrier-breaking unit.

Known as "the three Musketeers" on campus in the early 1940s, Richard Pullam, Wendell Pruitt and Bertran Wallace were fairly inseparable. They were roommates, athletes and campus leaders, as well as cadets in the second CPT class in the spring of 1941.

Wallace was the all-around star, serving as class president four years, receiving national awards in football and regional in basketball. In high school, he was named the top ROTC cadet officer in Kansas City and nearly earned a nomination to West Point from then-Sen. Harry Truman.

These three took the U.S. Army Air Corps exams in the summer of 1941. Only Wallace did not pass.

During the physical exam, the medical officer called Wallace "boy," to which he quickly corrected the doctor, who then told him his flying days were over. Instead, he served in the Army Air Corps' military police, as well as the Korean War retiring with the rank of major.

Pullam and Pruitt were the first of the LU CPT pilots to earn their wings from Tuskegee Army Air Field. One other Lincoln CPT pilot flew for the 332nd Pursuit Group in Europe - Lt. Wilbur Long, who was held as a POW in Poland.

Pullam and Pruitt deployed overseas in January 1944. Initially, they flew hand-me-down P39 Airacobras on dive-bombing and strafing missions supporting ground troops around Rome, including cover for the Anzio Beach landing. In June 1944 they received P47 Thunderbolts at Ramitelli Air Base with a new mission to guard bombing runs.

Pruitt distinguished himself as a fearless, maybe reckless, pilot, whereas Pullam was proving a capable squad leader.

Pruitt took bold chances and nonchalantly performed stunts professional acrobatic pilots would hesitate to do. He once scraped rooftops with his wheels and once slow rolled over the deck with his wings inches from the ground. His flying is featured on the History Channel's "Dogfights: Tuskegee Airmen" episode. And the character Joe "Lightning" Little in the movie "Red Tails" is said to be based on Pruitt.

His most notable day came June 25, 1944, over Trieste Harbor, when he and wingman Lt. Gwynne Pierson were the first to sink a destroyer with machine gun fire - a feat doubted by white leadership until wing cameras confirmed.

Pruitt also took down three enemy fighters. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters. He returned to St. Louis in December 1944 to a hero's tribute by the mayor and another at Lincoln.

He is among the 75 African-American aviators painted on the "Black Americans in Flight" mural at St. Louis-Lambert airport, along with fellow Lincolnites Everett Bratcher and Milton Lemmons.

Pullam returned to Kansas City in January 1945, decorated for meritorious achievement in aerial flight during sustained operations, the Air Medal with four clusters and two Major Campaign Stars. He remained in service after the war, becoming commander of the 301st Fighter Squadron.

At least three other Lincolnites served in Europe with the Tuskegee Airmen. Clovis Bordeaux was the first from Lincoln to join the Tuskegee Airmen, as ground crew. Bordeaux was in charge of communications for the 99th Fighter Squadron, receiving the European Theater Service Medal with eight Bronze Stars.

Finis Holt was a radio operator for the 100th Fighter Squadron, discharged with seven Bronze Stars to his European Theater Ribbon. And Clarence Farquhar was a clerk for the 100th, decorated with the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one silver star and three bronze stars.

Louis K. Harris, Everett Bratcher, Edwin Barrett and Stewart Fulbright also earned their wings from Tuskegee. And several other Lincolnites didn't complete the flight training.

The Tuskegee Airmen program added the 477th Bombardment Group too late to see action. At least two Lincolnites were trained as navigators and bombardiers for a B25 crew - Victor Barker and Albert Gaines.

Lastly, professor Charles Hoard left Lincoln, where he had been the football line coach and Yates Hall proctor, to become an instructor at Tuskegee. He returned to Lincoln as a lifelong educator and served in the local Air Reserve Squadron reaching the rank of major.

Michelle Brooks is a former reporter for the Jefferson City News Tribune and an avid researcher of Lincoln University history. She will present "Tigers in the Air: How Lincoln University prepared pilots for World War II" at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Missouri State Museum After Hours program at Lohman's Landing.