Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr.

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2 Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 July 4, 2002) Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was born in Washington, D.C., in He graduated from Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1929, attended Western Reserve University in Cleveland then went on to be one of the first black cadets at West Point. Before 1940, African Americans were barred from flying for the U.S. military. Early in 1941, the Roosevelt administration, in response to public pressure for greater black participation in the military as war approached, ordered the War Department to create a black flying unit. The military selected Tuskegee Institute, an African American school originally founded by Booker T. Washington, to train pilots because of its commitment to aeronautical training. Tuskegee had the facilities, and engineering and technical instructors, as well as a climate for year round flying. This training resulted in the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Captain Davis was assigned to the first training class at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and in March 1942 won his wings as one of five black officers to complete the course. He was the first black officer to solo an Army Air Corps aircraft. In July that year, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel, he was named commander of the first all-black air unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. The group escorted bombers on air combat missions over Europe. Davis himself flew sixty missions in P-39, Curtiss P-40, P-47 and P-51 Mustang fighters. In September 1943, Davis was called back to the United States to take command of the 332nd Fighter Group, a larger all-black unit preparing to go overseas. Colonel Davis and his 332nd Fighter Group arrived in Italy soon after that. The four-squadron group, which was called the Red Tails for the distinctive markings of its planes, flew many missions deep into German territory. After World War II, Davis served at the Pentagon and in overseas posts over the next two decades rising through the ranks throughout the years. He retired from active military service on February 1, On December 9, 1998, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was advanced to the rank of General, U.S. Air Force (Retired), with President Clinton pinning on his fourstar insignia. This distinction marked Davis as the first African-American general in the United States Air Force. Davis followed in his father's footsteps in breaking racial barriers, as Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. was the first African-American general in the United States Army. General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. and the other Tuskegee Airmen's achievements paved the way for full integration of the U.S. military. References Davis Aerospace and Maritime Academy INFORMATION PACKET

3 Dreams of Flight FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE DAVIS AEROSPACE & MARITIME ACADEMY: Kim Brandenburg Prince/Izant Company - CEO 5660 Parkwood Circle Chagrin Falls, OH (216) Kb@princeizant.com Mr. Michael Dolan 615 W. Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH mdolan@att.net Dr. Michael Koch Cleveland Clinic-Euclid Campus Lake Shore Blvd. Euclid, OH (216) kochm@ccf.org Jon Loufman Meteorologist Channel 19CCF Owner Atmosphere Adventures Roberta Drive Bay Village, Ohio, (440) jon@atmosphereadventures.com Peter J. Corrigan Prestolite - COO 3933 Kings Mill Run Rocky River, OH (216) peterjcorrigan@cs.com Richard Gash Mansfield Structural - Owner Lake Road Bay Village, OH, (440) skipper@seascoutship41.org Rev. Dr. Charles P. Lucas, Jr. Former Director, Cleveland Branch-NAACP cpl6060@gmail.com Mr. Frederick D. Middleton, Jr. Frederick Douglas Middleton, Jr., Attn. 815 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH flegal31947@sbcglobal.net Chuck Ripepi Garland Industries, Inc. - CFO 2800 E. 91st Street Cleveland, OH (216) cripepi@garland.com Davis Aerospace and Maritime Academy INFORMATION PACKET

4 VISION STATEMENT Building upon the powerful legacy of General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and the Tuskegee Airmen, Davis Aerospace and Maritime Academy will facilitate interdisciplinary and innovative thinking in a curriculum fashioned around quality academic and co-curricular programs. The hands-on nature of aerospace and maritime academics makes learning engaging and fun fostering the connection between experiential learning and career opportunity. Davis educators will nurture a culture of continuous learning based on a foundation of critical thinking and life skills. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Davis Aerospace and Maritime Academy is to guide students to become productive and contributing members of society. The Academy will provide strong academic and co-curricular programs in a safe and caring environment. Our team shall coordinate the resources of the school and community so that students respect themselves and others, appreciate the value of diversity and individual creativity, recognize the problems and opportunities for change, seek a set of moral standards that allows them to thrive in the world they inherit, and experience the joy of learning as a lifelong process. The value system that underlies these efforts to accomplish this mission includes these beliefs: Every child is capable of advanced learning with appropriate instruction and encouragement Students excel when they can clearly see the connection between learning and opportunity Learning is enjoyable and fun when a student is learning about something they are excited about The secondary education experience is transitional from the primary school experience Pursuit of knowledge deepens life experience beyond career achievement and financial success Knowledge seekers learn in different ways Students need to be taught by their educators that they are smart and have the ability to adapt There is strength in diversity and respectful collaboration with peers Development of Life Skills are critical to adaptability, team work, and social development in the workplace Successful learning fosters confidence and fruitful career outcomes

5 Davis Aerospace & Maritime Academy (Formerly General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Aviation High School) We the undersigned members of Greater Cleveland s corporate, aviation, medical and educational community appreciate and commend the leadership you have shown in efforts to address the education inequities that impact the opportunities available to our young people. We wish to offer our services to be a part of your team. We stand ready to provide not only assistance, but resources as well. The closing of the Aviation High School in the mid 1990 s saddened many of us. The closing of this school was a travesty for the children of our community and was symbolic of the turmoil surrounding the Cleveland school district during that time. Two longstanding aviation industry professionals from our community have a plan to re-open the Aviation High School as the Davis Aerospace & Maritime Academy. These professionals, Drew Ferguson and Doug McConnell, have a vision that fosters collaborations between our safety forces, public health institutions, civic, corporate, and higher education communities that will deliver direct paths to high- level careers. By their nature, the Aviation, Aerospace & Maritime industries have a special attraction to young people. The Davis Aerospace & Maritime Academy (DAMA) is a special place where students will discover their dreams and realize their futures. To this end, we have established a task force that will provide unique educational opportunities to the youth of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County and facilitate the reopening of the school. The response from our local institutions has been very encouraging. Representatives of these institutions understand that the collaboration we envision will offer the promise and hope we need to provide to the underserved youth in our community. We sign this letter as a show of commitment to bring whatever resources we can to the table to make this project a reality. This is what we have accomplished in a few short weeks: Formed an educational affiliation with Kent State University, Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve Established a relationship with University School as a DAMA partner school. University School has committed professional staff mentoring, curriculum development assistance, fund-raising consultation and educational supplies including textbooks. University School has a history of success partnering with urban educational development programs In addition to the funds mentioned above the task force has started its own fund-raising program and has a goal to raise $500,000 by mid-autumn to begin capital improvements. We are in talks with Living Hope Productions to bring to Cleveland native Layon Gray s Broadway play Black Angles Over Tuskegee for our first fund-raising event scheduled for November, Co-Sponsored the Young Eagles program at Burke Lakefront Airport where 46 young people experienced flight for the first time. We are finalizing negotiations for a Memorandum of Understanding for the school facility with Cleveland s Department of Port Control, Director Ricky Smith and Cleveland s Department of Port Control, Chief of Business Development, Pat Singleton.

6 The aviation industry is an important part of Ohio s history and commerce. Currently, the industry ranks second in employment in the state of Ohio. This vision is needed now more than ever, for our young people, our community and our future. Please join these members of Civic, Corporate and Education Communities that support this important effort. Chuck Ripepi, CEO Garland Industries Jon Loufman, Meteorologist WOIO Channel 19 Joseph Cimperman, Councilman City of Cleveland Eva Lukwinski, Secretary Maple Leaf Properties Vincent Shemo, VP & Controller Polyone Corporation David Centa, Member Tuskegee Airmen North Coast Chapter D. Roy Ferguson, MD MetroHealth Systems Doug McConnell, President MRK Aviation Reverend Lukas St. Paul and St. James Church Kristine George The George Companies Robert Morgan, Instructor & Teacher Lakeland Community College Karen Moss Jeff Johnson, Councilman City of Cleveland Dr. J. Michael Koch, M.D., Section Head Regional Cardiology Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute Peter J. Corrigan, COO Prestolite Corporation Kim Brandenburg, President Prince/Izant Company Ron Fuller, President Stainless Works Jay Ross, Retired CEO Uptime Corporation Richard Gash, President Mansfield Structural D. Andrew Ferguson, President PHASTAR Corporation Fred Middleton, Jr. Tony George, President The George Companies Mike Barth, Commissioner, Retired Burke Lakefront Airport John Moss, Registered Representative BOA Merrill Lynch Henry Lukwinski President, Maple Leaf Properties Dave Greenspan, County Councilman Cuyahoga County

7 Honorable Tom Patton, Senator State of Ohio Mabel Griar, M. Ed. Academix Learning Solutions Susie Dills, Executive Director International Women s Air & Space Museum Radhika Reddy, Founding Partner Ariel Ventures Mathew S. Ferguson, Attorney Legal Ethics Stan Gromek, M.Ed., CPC Gromek Resources Roy Richardson, Original Tuskegee Airmen Steve Murray, Headmaster University School Mike Dolan Tanya Dixon Education Consultant Deborah McDonald, Retired Police Officer City of Cleveland Dr. Catherine F. Safko, DPM Private Practice Andrej Lah, President Cleveland Catholic Cemeteries Association