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Black and white photograph of pilot Charles Hall in the cockpit of a P-40 Warhawk in North Africa. Hall was the first African American to shoot down an enemy plane during the war.

Black and white photograph of a Distinguished Flying Cross award ceremony taken on the occasion of a visit to Ramitelli, Italy by Benjamin O. Davis Sr, father of Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and the first African American general officer in the U.S. Armed Forces. Left to right are: Dean Strother, "Buck" Taylor, Nelson Brooks, Ira C. Eaker, and Benjamin O. Davis Jr.

Black and white photograph taken during a visit by Truman Gibson and James Bevans to Tuskegee airmen in Ramitelli, Italy. During World War II Truman Gibson was an advisor and aide on in the Roosevelt administration. Bevans was deputy of administration of U.S. Army forces in the Mediterranean Theater. Left to right are: Truman Gibson, B.O. Davis Jr., James Bevans, unknown, George "Spanky" Roberts.

Black and white photograph taken during a visit by Truman Gibson and James Bevans to the 332nd Fighter Group in Ramitelli, Italy. Gibson was advisor and aide on race relations to the Roosevelt administration during World War II. James Bevans was deputy of administration of U.S. Army forces in the Mediterranean Theater. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was commander of the 332nd Fighter Group, and Vance H. Marchbanks was the its flight surgeon. Left to right are: unknown, James Bevans, Truman Gibson, B.O. Davis Jr, Vance H. Marchbanks.

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot John Gibson standing by the P-40 Warhawk, named after his wife ("ETHEL" lettered on the nose). Gibson was the nephew of Truman Gibson, Roosevelt administration advisor and aide on race relations during World War II. Note the ring and bead gunsight on top of the engine cowling

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Charles Hall and his wife Maxine with Sam Hooker and an unidentified woman: (L-R) Charles Hall, Maxine Hall, Sam Hooker, unknown. Inscription on back: "Fellow next to me is Sam Hooker Pictures likely taken in Grant Park."

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Charles Hall and his wife Maxine, location unknown.

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Henry "Herky" Perry and two unidentified airmen aboard a C-47 during the 99th's move from North Africa to Sicily

Black and white photograph of pilot Howard L. Baugh with a P-47 Thunderbolt in Italy. Baugh, along with Edward Toppins, John Morgan, and John Gibson, was one of the 99th Fighter Squadron's first replacement pilots.

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot John Daniels standing beside a P-47 Thunderbolt in Italy. A 99th Fighter Squadron patch is prominent on the left side of Daniels's jacket. Just below the patch is a D-ring parachute release handle.

Black and white photograph of (L-R) pilot Hannibal Cox and three unidentified men in Italy. They are standing in deep mud before a ramshackle building.

Black and white photograph of 100th Fighter Squadron pilot Roscoe C. Brown being strapped into the cockpit of a P-51D Mustang in Italy. Brown was one of the first pilots to shoot down a German ME-262 jet fighter. Among many other distinctions, Brown served on the faculty of New York University for more than twenty-five years and as the president of Bronx Community College of the City University of New York. He was also involved in hosting and producing television programs that dealt with African American achievements.

Black and white photograph of a pilot, possibly James H. Shepherd, with a P-51C Mustang in Italy. Inscribed on the back of the photograph is: "Capt. Shepherd 302 Engineering."

Black and white photograph of pilot Graham Smith in his P-40 Warhawk, location unknown. The photograph provides a good view of the P-40's instrument panel.

Black and white photograph of pilot Robert Friend, taken in Italy. The photograph is inscribed "To Capt. 'Shutters' Thompson RJ Friend Capt. A.C."

Black and white photograph, inscribed in ink, of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Bernard "The Eel" Knighten at Licata.

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron replacement pilot Heber C. Houston in Sicily.

Black and white photograph of Elwood T. Driver, 99th Fighter Squadron fighter pilot and flight leader, seated on a cluster of bombs in Licata, Sicily. According to the Arlington National Cemetery website, by the end of World War II, Driver had completed 123 combat missions. Following a twenty-year career in the Air Force he served, among other things, as the Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

Black and white photograph of a Distinguished Flying Cross ceremony, Ramitelli, Italy. L-R in the foreground are: unknown, Benjamin. O. Davis Sr., Benjamin O. Davis Jr, Joseph D. Elsberry, Jack D. Holsclaw, and Clarence D. Lester. The photograph was taken during a visit to the 332nd Fighter Group by Generals Ira C. Eaker, commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces; Nathan Twining, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force; Benjamin O. Davis Sr., and Dean Strother, commanding officer of the 15th FC for the purpose of the ceremony.

Black and white photograph of unidentified pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group, Cattolica, Italy, the last place the 332nd was stationed during the war. The photograph was taken during visits to the 332nd by Nathan Twining, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force; Dean Strother, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force Fighter Command; and "Buck" Taylor, commanding officer of the 306th Fighter Wing, 15th Air Force. The 332nd Fighter Group belonged to the 306th Fighter Wing.

Black and white photograph of Jack D. Holsclaw following receipt of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The photo negative has been reversed. The DFC should be on Holsclaw's left pocket. Generals Ira C. Eaker, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces; Nathan Twining, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force; Benjamin O. Davis Sr.; and Dean Strother, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force Fighter Command came to Ramitelli expressly to confer the DFC awards on members of the 332nd Fighter Group.

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Edward Gleed wearing a Distinguished Flying Cross. A barely legible inscription in black ink on the back of the photograph reads: "44 Capt. Eddie [Gleed] of this office of the 99th. He joined us at Capua and has been a steady pilot and regular guy since his arrival. He is one who really earned the D.F.C."

Black and white photograph of weapons officer William R. Thompson taken on his first day in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois.

Black and white photograph of (L-R) Nelson Brooks (back row), Nathan Twining, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Dean Strother, and "Buck" Taylor in Cattolica, Italy. The photograph was taken during visits made by General Twining, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force; Dean Strother, commanding officer of the 15th Air Force Fighter Command; and "Buck" Taylor, commanding officer of the 306th Fighter Wing

Black and white postcard portrait of William R. Thompson, photographer unknown, taken at an unknown location. The photograph is signed "To Mother and Dad With Love, Bill."

Black and white photograph of pilot Charles Dryden flying his P-40L "A-Train" on a B-25 escort mission in Fardjouna, Tunisia

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Leon Roberts watching a wheel change on his P-40 Warhawk. "Janet" is likely the name given to the engine by the plane's crew chief. Note the bomb on a shackle below the fuselage and the fact that the machine gun is missing

Color photograph of George E. Gray on the wing of a P-47 Thunderbolt in Italy. Visible in the foreground are three wing-mounted .50 caliber machine guns with barrels covered to keep debris out during takeoff, etc. The coverings automatically blew off when the guns were fired.

Color photograph of a barely recognizable John Gibson, 99th Fighter Squadron pilot, with a P-47 Thunderbolt looming in the background, Italy.

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Charles P. Bailey with the P-40 Warhawk "Josephine" in Sicily or elsewhere in Italy

Black and white photograph of Graham "Peepsight" Smith (right) and two unknown members of the 99th Fighter Squadron with a P-40 Warhawk in North Africa

Black and white photograph of two P-38 Lightnings in flight over a camp in North Africa.

Black and white photograph of Tony Romano (left) and Frances Langford performing in a Bob Hope USO show in North Africa.

Black and white photograph of members of the 99th Fighter Squadron relaxing in the shade of a P-40 Warhawk in North Africa. The airman standing is thought to be Graham Smith.

American fighter pilots in their jets flying side by side are dropping bombs while enemy bombs are flying up through them.

Black and white photograph of 332nd Fighter Group pilots and armaments officer William R. Thompson with P-51C Mustang in Italy. Left to right are Benjamin O. Davis and Andrew D. "Jug" Turner. Nelson Brooks and William R. Thompson appear in the background. The diamond pattern on the tail of the foreground P-51 represents the four fighter groups (31st, 52nd, 325th, and 332nd) of the 306th Fighter Wing. The upper diamond (yellow and black check) represents the 325th; the lower diamond (yellow), the 52nd; the left diamond (red), the 332nd; and the right diamond (red stripes), the 31st

Black and white photograph of 99th Fighter Squadron pilot John Gibson and war correspondent Tom Young with Gibson's P-40 Warhawk "Ethel" in North Africa

Black and white photograph of John Gibson and William R. Thompson, 99th Fighter Squadron, with Gibson's P-40 Warhawk "Ethel" in North Africa

Black and white photograph of James T. Wiley of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, perhaps in Italy. Wiley was one of the twenty-four original members of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, later the 99th Fighter Squadron.

Black and white photograph of a pilot with his side arm and "Mae West" over his shoulder. The photograph includes a P-40 Warhawk, a provost marshall's jeep, an ambulance, and a pile of duffel bags and miscellaneous equipment. It may have been taken during the 99th Fighter Squadron's move from North Africa to Sicily

Black and white photograph of members of the 99th Fighter Squadron riding a M35 "deuce and a half" truck, possibly on the move from North Africa to Sicily. Note the "99FS" on the front bumper. The man standing at left of cab is carrying a Thompson M1A1 submachine gun. In the background is a P-40 fighter

Color photograph of (L-R bottom) Howard Baugh, James T. Wiley and (top) George E. Gray with a P-47 Thunderbolt in Italy.

Color photograph of an unidentified pilot standing next to a P-47 Thunderbolt in Italy.

Black and white photograph of pilot Erwin B. Lawrence in the cockpit of a P-51C Mustang. Lawrence became the commanding officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron after George Roberts. Lawrence was killed in a strafing mission over Rome on October 4, 1944. The photo is inscribed: "To Bill from his old lady. We've been through some swell times together. Erwin B. Lawrence."

Photographic negative depicting a newspaper graphic of P-40 Warhawks in combat headlined "Lt. McCrumby Dangled Head Downward for 3,000 Feet." The caption states "Ninety-ninth fighter shot down over beachhead near Rome, dangled by one foot while plane fell 3,000 feet. By a miracle he kicked free and opened his parachute." The incident occurred February 5, 1944

Black and white photograph of Mac Ross, one of the first five Tuskegee Airmen pilots to receive their silver wings. He was killed in a plane crash later in 1944, in Italy. The photograph is autographed and inscribed.

Black and white photograph of ground crew members and 99th Fighter Squadron pilot Leon Roberts (left, hand on wing).

A photograph of Air Force pilot, Lt. Clinton D. Vincent.

Black and white photograph of pilot Price D. Rice seated in a P-40 Warhawk, location unknown. The color inset depicts Rice later in life.