Flew 120 Missions In WWII

Alva Temple, one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen died in his Columbus (MS) home Saturday. He was 86. The cause of death was not released.

Temple completed 120 missions during World War II. He served in Italy, southern France and the Balkans. Like other African-Americans who were aviation pioneers during the Second World War, Temple trained at Tuskegee (AL) as part of a program set up by the Pentagon during the war. The 992 black pilots who graduated the program were credited with shooting down more than 100 enemy aircraft. Not once did they ever lose to enemy fighters a bomber under their escort. About 150 lost their lives in training or combat.

"I felt I could fly if given a chance," Temple told the Huntsville (AL) Times earlier this year. "A lot of people thought I was crazy. They thought I'd be killed, but I didn't pay them any attention. As long as I could abide by the requirements, I could take care of it."

Earlier this year, Temple said he hoped the airmen had played a part in integrating a nation. "All I can say is, things are not as bad as they used to be. New opportunities have been opened up to our blacks."

The Tuskegee program was disbanded in 1946, but Temple stayed in the service, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

Last March, he told the Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger, "People need to remember us. People need to know that you can make it through anything and succeed."

Lt. Col. Alva Temple has gone west, transferred to the Lonely Eagle Memorial Chapter where his name will not be forgotten. Happy landings, sir.

FMI: http://tuskegeeairmen.org