| 99th Fighter Squadron pilots. From left to right: Wilson V. Eagleson II (February 1, 1920 – April 16, 2006), Unidentified, Charles P. Bailey (November 25, 1918 – April 1, 2001), Herman A. “Ace” Lawson (December 24, 1916 – May 9, 1995), Heber C. Houston (June 28, 1919 – September 6, 1981) and Henry B. “Herky” Perry (January 18, 1920 – January 1, 1995). Perry graduated in Cadet Class SE-42-H on September 6, 1942. Lawson graduated in Cadet Class SE-42-J on November 10, 1942. Eagleson, Bailey, and Houston graduated in Cadet Class SE-43-D on April 29, 1943. Eagleson was asked how he was treated by service people outside of his race during his military career. He replied, “Not any different from before the war. When we came back from overseas, for instance, there were German prisoners of war [who] had complete run of the base. They could go to the movies and anyplace that they wanted to, but we were still segregated. We came back from overseas, and we went through the Colored entrance and got on buses and trains and went home. The others went down Broadway and had a ticker-tape parade. We were never actually welcomed home. In fact, it wasn’t until 1948 that they desegregated the military forces. There was not much recognition for what we had done. In fact, I guess in the last five to six years [has it been] recognized that we were a part of the winning team in World War II.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1964.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.13 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 3978 x 3017 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Air Force |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | italy |
| Archive | Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Record Number | 200305-F-PA944-0001 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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