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Big Al
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Updated: May 14, 2021
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Theodore Vincent O’Kelly, Tuskeegee Airman
The insertion of this photo and description of his life and times salutes the memory of our dear friend, Theodore Vincent O'Kelly, 92 years old at death, was born on June 7, 1924, and passed away on April 17, 2017.
We will remember him forever. He was a career educator in New Jersey, and a former member of the 332d Fight Group, otherwise known as, and recognized as the Tuskeegee Airmen who fought the war in the skies. We honor his and their memories.
The First Black Pilots in the American Military:
Red Tails, The Tuskegee Airmen in World War II
Before World War II, black soldiers were not accepted as military pilots. Early in the war, the Army had announced the formation of the first black Air Corps, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Based in Tuskegee, Alabama, the unit was listed as "experimental." By 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron was sent to North Africa to attack the Italian island of Pantelleria in preparation for the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The Tuskegee Airmen were successful in bringing the island to surrender, and the Airmen went on to distinguish themselves flying escort for U.S. bombers.
Red Tails
The Tuskegee Airmen quickly earned the admiration of friend and foe alike. The German Luftwaffe called them "Schwartze Vogelmenschen," Black Birdmen. To American bomber crews, they were known as Red Tail Angels because of the red stabilizers on their P-51 Mustangs and their reputation, at that time, for having never lost a single bomber they escorted into combat.
"We got the reddest paint we could find and painted our aircraft. We wanted the bomber crews to know when we were escorting them and we wanted to make sure the Luftwaffe knew when we were airborne and in their territory." (Lt. Col. Herbert Carter of the Tuskegee Airmen)
"Ordinary guys did a certain precision rollover to show you they were friendly, but the Red Tails would roll that wing over and over and float through the formation like dancers. When you saw them you were happy. They were that hot, that good." (Tech. Sergeant John "Red" Connell)
By the time the war ended the Red Tails had downed 111 enemy aircraft, destroyed 150 other planes on the ground and flown over 15,000 combat sorties. 66 Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives.
The Red Tails, Tuskegee Airmen, are featured in the documentary of Black Military History, "For Love of Liberty."
We will remember him forever. He was a career educator in New Jersey, and a former member of the 332d Fight Group, otherwise known as, and recognized as the Tuskeegee Airmen who fought the war in the skies. We honor his and their memories.
The First Black Pilots in the American Military:
Red Tails, The Tuskegee Airmen in World War II
Before World War II, black soldiers were not accepted as military pilots. Early in the war, the Army had announced the formation of the first black Air Corps, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Based in Tuskegee, Alabama, the unit was listed as "experimental." By 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron was sent to North Africa to attack the Italian island of Pantelleria in preparation for the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The Tuskegee Airmen were successful in bringing the island to surrender, and the Airmen went on to distinguish themselves flying escort for U.S. bombers.
Red Tails
The Tuskegee Airmen quickly earned the admiration of friend and foe alike. The German Luftwaffe called them "Schwartze Vogelmenschen," Black Birdmen. To American bomber crews, they were known as Red Tail Angels because of the red stabilizers on their P-51 Mustangs and their reputation, at that time, for having never lost a single bomber they escorted into combat.
"We got the reddest paint we could find and painted our aircraft. We wanted the bomber crews to know when we were escorting them and we wanted to make sure the Luftwaffe knew when we were airborne and in their territory." (Lt. Col. Herbert Carter of the Tuskegee Airmen)
"Ordinary guys did a certain precision rollover to show you they were friendly, but the Red Tails would roll that wing over and over and float through the formation like dancers. When you saw them you were happy. They were that hot, that good." (Tech. Sergeant John "Red" Connell)
By the time the war ended the Red Tails had downed 111 enemy aircraft, destroyed 150 other planes on the ground and flown over 15,000 combat sorties. 66 Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives.
The Red Tails, Tuskegee Airmen, are featured in the documentary of Black Military History, "For Love of Liberty."
Company C, First Separate Battalion, New Jersey National Guard (1934)
First Lieutenant Robert Trott, Firearms Instructor, First Separate Battalion of the New Jersey National Guard (1934)
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Theodore Vincent O’Kelly, Tuskeegee Airman
The insertion of this photo and description of his life and times salutes the memory of our dear friend, Theodore Vincent O'Kelly, 92 years old at death, was born on June 7, 1924, and passed away on April 17, 2017.
We will remember him forever. He was a career educator in New Jersey, and a former member of the 332d Fight Group, otherwise known as, and recognized as the Tuskeegee Airmen who fought the war in the skies. We honor his and their memories.
The First Black Pilots in the American Military:
Red Tails, The Tuskegee Airmen in World War II
Before World War II, black soldiers were not accepted as military pilots. Early in the war, the Army had announced the formation of the first black Air Corps, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Based in Tuskegee, Alabama, the unit was listed as "experimental." By 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron was sent to North Africa to attack the Italian island of Pantelleria in preparation for the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The Tuskegee Airmen were successful in bringing the island to surrender, and the Airmen went on to distinguish themselves flying escort for U.S. bombers.
Red Tails
The Tuskegee Airmen quickly earned the admiration of friend and foe alike. The German Luftwaffe called them "Schwartze Vogelmenschen," Black Birdmen. To American bomber crews, they were known as Red Tail Angels because of the red stabilizers on their P-51 Mustangs and their reputation, at that time, for having never lost a single bomber they escorted into combat.
"We got the reddest paint we could find and painted our aircraft. We wanted the bomber crews to know when we were escorting them and we wanted to make sure the Luftwaffe knew when we were airborne and in their territory." (Lt. Col. Herbert Carter of the Tuskegee Airmen)
"Ordinary guys did a certain precision rollover to show you they were friendly, but the Red Tails would roll that wing over and over and float through the formation like dancers. When you saw them you were happy. They were that hot, that good." (Tech. Sergeant John "Red" Connell)
By the time the war ended the Red Tails had downed 111 enemy aircraft, destroyed 150 other planes on the ground and flown over 15,000 combat sorties. 66 Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives.
The Red Tails, Tuskegee Airmen, are featured in the documentary of Black Military History, "For Love of Liberty."
We will remember him forever. He was a career educator in New Jersey, and a former member of the 332d Fight Group, otherwise known as, and recognized as the Tuskeegee Airmen who fought the war in the skies. We honor his and their memories.
The First Black Pilots in the American Military:
Red Tails, The Tuskegee Airmen in World War II
Before World War II, black soldiers were not accepted as military pilots. Early in the war, the Army had announced the formation of the first black Air Corps, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Based in Tuskegee, Alabama, the unit was listed as "experimental." By 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron was sent to North Africa to attack the Italian island of Pantelleria in preparation for the Allied Invasion of Sicily. The Tuskegee Airmen were successful in bringing the island to surrender, and the Airmen went on to distinguish themselves flying escort for U.S. bombers.
Red Tails
The Tuskegee Airmen quickly earned the admiration of friend and foe alike. The German Luftwaffe called them "Schwartze Vogelmenschen," Black Birdmen. To American bomber crews, they were known as Red Tail Angels because of the red stabilizers on their P-51 Mustangs and their reputation, at that time, for having never lost a single bomber they escorted into combat.
"We got the reddest paint we could find and painted our aircraft. We wanted the bomber crews to know when we were escorting them and we wanted to make sure the Luftwaffe knew when we were airborne and in their territory." (Lt. Col. Herbert Carter of the Tuskegee Airmen)
"Ordinary guys did a certain precision rollover to show you they were friendly, but the Red Tails would roll that wing over and over and float through the formation like dancers. When you saw them you were happy. They were that hot, that good." (Tech. Sergeant John "Red" Connell)
By the time the war ended the Red Tails had downed 111 enemy aircraft, destroyed 150 other planes on the ground and flown over 15,000 combat sorties. 66 Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives.
The Red Tails, Tuskegee Airmen, are featured in the documentary of Black Military History, "For Love of Liberty."
Company C, First Separate Battalion, New Jersey National Guard (1934)
First Lieutenant Robert Trott, Firearms Instructor, First Separate Battalion of the New Jersey National Guard (1934)
Lost & Found
Help reunite mystery or 'orphan' photos that have lost their families.
Photos with the names and dates lost in history. AncientFaces has been reuniting mystery and orphan photos with their families since we began in 2000.
This 'Lost & Found' collection is of photos foun... 
Political
Original photos of the politicians and political events throughout the past few centuries.
Welcome to a collection of photographs that document the fascinating history of politics. From democracies to monarchies, communism to fascism, and everything in between, this page captures the divers... 
Notorious
The people and places that live on in our memories - not for good reasons but because of how they shocked and saddened.
Images of serial killers, mass murderers, despots and dictators, prisons, and the victims of these horrors. These people & places live on in infamy in our history.
There are the notorious killers: Th... 
1800s
The 1800s where the end of the industrial revolution and the birth of scientists.
The Industrial Revolution began around 1760 and ran through the 1840's. Then began the birth of the profession of science. Louis Pasteur, Charles Darwin, Michael Faraday, Thomas Edison, and Nikola Te... 
African Americans
See the faces of just some of the many African Americans who have contributed to building the United States into the country it is today.
African Americans in the early history of the United States had an extremely difficult start as immigrants. Having been primarily forced to immigrate to a new continent, African Americans worked throu... 
Native Americans
Images of the Native American people - the tribes, their dress, and their lifestyles. We honor and celebrate Native American history with this collection of historic photos.
The best way to understand the people who first inhabited North America, Native Americans, is through their own words. The following quotes contain some of the wisdom passed down through generations o... 
Popular Photos
These historical photos have generated quite the buzz!
This collection of historical photos has got people talking. These photos - either because of the subject and/or the story - have generated a lot of comments among the community. What do you have to s... 
Fashion
Discover how fashion has changed over the years with this collection of photos.
Fashion styles & vintage clothing throughout the decades that will inspire, make you wish for those times again, or may make you ask "What were they thinking"?
Clothing styles have obviously changed ... 
Celebrities
Discover the lives and legacies of notable celebrities from the past, like Bette Davis and John Wayne, by browsing photographs of them in their prime.
The lasting impact of celebrities from the past cannot be denied; they continue to be an essential part of our cultural history. Through their talent, charisma, and unique personalities, they entertai... 
Dorothy Blakely of Tennessee was born on February 13, 1908, and died at age 66 years old in June 1974.
AncientFaces
This account is shared by Community Support (Kathy Pinna & Daniel Pinna & Lizzie Kunde) so we can quickly answer any questions you might have.
Please reach out and message us here if you have any questions, feedback, requests to merge biographies, or just want to say hi!
2020 marks 20 years since the inception of AncientFaces. We are the same team who began this community so long ago. Over the years it feels, at least to us, that our family has expanded to include so many. Thank you!
2020 marks 20 years since the inception of AncientFaces. We are the same team who began this community so long ago. Over the years it feels, at least to us, that our family has expanded to include so many. Thank you!
