Tuskegee Airman Grouping

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

Large and very rare grouping of approximately one hundred items pertaining to Captain Everett E. Richardson of the U.S. Army Air Force, 1943-1946. Richardson, a Tuskegee Airman, served proudly in a still segregated military during World War II and its immediate aftermath. He trained as a navigator-bombadier at the Army Air Field in Roswell, New Mexcio and, later, at Godman Field in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Richardson's post-war assignments led to duty at Freeman Field in Indiana and Chanute Field in Illinois. Settling in Philadelphia, Richardson became active during the 1970's and 1980's as a member of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., an exclusive veterans' organization for WWII's surviving black aviators. This collection includes the following: Richardson's officer's tunic complete with captain's bars, WWII Service ribbon, American Theater Service ribbon, Air Force patch, and Navigator's wings. VF condition...Plus; Leather flight jacket, Large size, Richardson's leather name patch sewn over the left breast. There are remnants of an applied Air Force patch on the left shoulder. Some repairs and a split over one shoulder. Overall Fair condition...Plus; Large leather flight mittens, 7" x 14". Fine condition...Plus; Framed photograph, 4" x 5 1/4", ca. 1944. A spectacular formal portrait of the young Lt. Richardson from the waist up. He is wearing his leather flight jacket, aviator's cap, and goggles. VF condition...Plus; Photograph, 8" x 10", ca. 1945. Richardson is shown wearing his Navigator's wings in a field uniform. Some water staining not effecting the subject. Good condition...Plus; 13 small mixed photographs of military and civilian subjects, ca. early 1940's. These images, many of them informal snapshots, show Richardson in uniform, his family, and his friends. Minor water staining on some pictures. Overall Good condition...Plus; Aerial photograph, 5" square, July 13, 1945. Streets and buildings are seen in this image credited to "E.E. Richardson". Fine condition...Plus; Photograph of Nat King Cole, 4" x 4 1/4", ca. 1940's. A young Cole smiles up from his piano. In the background are several black servicemen. Some stains not effecting the subject. Good condition...Plus; Photograph of Richardson, 3 1/2" x 5", 1979. A candid color snapshot of the older - and quite dapper - Richardson engaged in conversation at a reception. This image is stapled to a Tuskegee Airmen letterhead on which Richardson is listed as a Director. Less stapling, VF condition...Plus; Five War Department technical manuals, over 50 pages total, quarto, 1940's. Included are AIR NAVIGATION TABLES, WEATHER FOR AIRCREW TRAINEES, INSTRUMENT FLYING INSTRUCTOR ON THE FULL PANEL, INSTRUMENT FLYING TECHNIQUE IN WEATHER, AND BASIC INSTRUMENT FLYING. Three of these books are signed by Richardson on the cover and four of them have "Lt. Everett E. Richardson 0-713053" hand-stamped on the covers. Some soiling on the covers, else VG condition...Plus; Book, GODMAN FIELD, 72 pages, quarto, 1945, Fort Knox, Kentucky. A classic yearbook showing the field, its command, candid photos and, of course, row upon row of individual portraits. Despite the upbeat feel of this publication, it is a tangible reminder of military segregation since every single person shown is an African-American. Lt. Richardson's portrait appears with others in the 618th Bombardment Squadron. Fine condition...Plus; Mimeographed orders and military documents, approximately 50 pages, all quarto, 1944-1946, various locations. Richardson's copies of official paperwork. Yellowed with age, mostly Very Good condition...Plus; Book, LONELY EAGLES by Robert A. Rose, 160 pages, octavo, 2nd printing, 1980, published by the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Los Angeles Chapter. Touted as "The Story of America's Black Air Force in World War II", this paperback contains many photographs among which is one of Richardson engaged in navigation training. Some scuffing to cover, else Fine condition...Plus; Two spiral-bound notebooks containing newspaper clippings and ephemera associated with black aviators and the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The average condition of these post-war paper mementos is Very Good.

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