| Original caption: “Fliers of a P-51 Mustang Group of the Fifteenth Air Force in Italy `shoot the breeze’ in the shadow of one of the Mustangs they fly.” Left to right in front of North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang (42-103960) “Skipper’s Darlin’ III”: Lieutenant Dempsey W. Morgan, Junior; 2nd Lieutenant Carroll S. Woods; 1st Lieutenant Robert H. Nelson, Junior; Captain Andrew D. Turner; and 2nd Lieutenant Clarence P. Lester. Lieutenant Dempsey W. Morgan, Junior (March 1, 1920 – April 11, 2013) was Cherokee Native and African American. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he enrolled in the Class of 1942 at West Point and graduated from Class 43-E-SE at Tuskegee. He flew missions over the Mediterranean and Southern Europe, while based in Italy as a member of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group. He flew 142 combat missions, including the starting run on the Nazi German airbase in Tatoi, Greece that destroyed 9 planes on the ground. He worked in a prison while studying law at night after the war. Morgan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 2002; an honorary Doctorate in public service from Tuskegee University in 2006; and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. 2nd Lieutenant Carroll S. Woods (September 16, 1919 – November 20, 2007) was the 10th of 12 children of James H. Woods Senior and Fannie W. Woods of Valdosta, Georgia. Drafted into the United States Army Air Forces, he was selected for the Tuskegee program and graduated with Class 43-H-SE on August 39, 1943. Flying with the 99th Fighter Squadron, he flew 107 missions in Italy. Shot down over Greece, he spent 7 months in captivity before liberation by United States 3rd Army on April 28, 1945. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. 1st Lieutenant Robert H. Nelson, Junior (August 16, 1919 – April 10, 2001) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sworn in as an Aviation Cadet on April 14, 1942. He graduated with Class 43-G on July 28, 1943. He flew 1 of 12 Bell P-39 Airacobras on February 19, 1944, from Montecorvino aerodrome for convoy protection over Naples Harbor. He and his flight drove off 4 Luftwaffe (“Nazi German Air Force”) fighters that did not attempt to engage Allied aircraft. He flew 105 missions in Italy with the 332nd Fighter Group. Captain (later Major) Andrew D. “Jug” Turner (January 6, 1920-September 14, 1947) Commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force. Turner graduated from Tuskegee class 42-I-SE and was inducted on October 9, 1942. When the 100th’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Robert B. Tresville (May 9, 1921 – June 24, 1944), failed to return from a mission in June 1944, Turner took command. On July 18, 1944, Turner was credited with a probable Me-109, which he was seen to damage heavily, but a crash was not witnessed. A resident of Deanwood, Washington District of Columbia, he flew 69 missions with the 100th. Electing to stay in the United States Air Force, he was killed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, when his Republic P-47N Thunderbolt collided with another pilot. Both Turner and the other pilot were killed. Corporal Hugh Beguesse (April 12, 1917 – January 26, 1953) his plane’s armament crew, was a Caribbean native who moved to Chicago, Illinois; he was not yet a citizen when he was drafted. 2nd Lieutenant Clarence D. “Lucky” Lester (February 23, 1923 – March 17, 1986) graduated with Class 43-K-SE on December 5, 1943. Joining the 100th Fighter Squadron, Lester shot down 3 Luftwaffe fighters on July 18, 1944; the 332nd Fighter Group shot down 12 Nazi German aircraft that day. He flew through 1 of the exploding Luftwaffe fighters, expecting damage, but avoiding it, leading to his nickname. He flew Republic F-84 Thunderjets after World War II and worked with the Department of Defense. He retired in 1969 as a Colonel of the United States Air Force. Later he found Inner City Fund International. “Skipper’s Darlin’ III” was sold for scrap on September 30, 1945. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0647.jpg |
| Image Size | 823.80 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2924 x 2368 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Office of War Information |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | August 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Ramitelli |
| State or Province | Molise |
| Country | Italy |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-208-NP-6XXX-1 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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