Charles Blakesly "Buster" Hall (August 25, 1920 – November 22, 1971) was an American combat fighter pilot and U.S. Army Air Force/U.S.
[1][2] Hall also became the first African American combat fighter pilot to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross.
[2] Hall was born on August 25, 1920, at his parents' home on 742 N. Columbia Street in rural Brazil, Indiana, Clay County.
[6] In 1941, Hall enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet, serial number 0790457, at Lawrence, Indiana's Fort Benjamin Harrison.
[4] On July 3, 1942, Hall graduated from the program's fourth Cadet Class Single Engine Section SE-42-F, earning his wings and a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant.
[8] During World War II, Hall, nicknamed "Buster", flew 198 missions over North Africa, Italy, the Mediterranean and Europe.
[2][3] On his eighth mission in the European Theater/Mediterranean Theater on July 2, 1943, Hall and his squadron escorted B-25 medium bombers on a raid on Castelvetrano Airfield in southwestern Sicily, Italy.
[6] The Courier‘s piece with a massive headline, “99th PILOT DOWNS NAZI PLANE”, featured editorial cartoonist Sam Milai's compelling cartoon depiction of Hall in his flight gear.
[6] Other African American publications including the Baltimore-based Afro-American, the Chicago Defender, the New York Amsterdam News, the Atlanta Daily World ran similar leads highlighting Hall's exploits.
Later in 1944, Hall arrived back in the United States, traveling extensively on an official tour to boost the sale of war bonds.
[10][6] He was one of ten officers to preside over the Freemen Field Mutiny Courts-Martial, appointed by General Frank O'Driscoll Hunter.
Mr. Hall was one of the first 43 African American pilots assigned to combat duty with the 99th Pursuit Squadron 332d Fighter Group (the Red Tails).
On July 2, 1943 Lt. Hall earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down a German Focke-Wulf 190 during a mission over [Panelleria, Tunisia, North Africa].