William A. Campbell (Tuskegee Airman)

[3][4] Following his graduation from the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, Campbell went to work as a clerk for the United States Department of Agricultural Extension.

[3] Campbell flew in the first combat mission of the 99th Pursuit Squadron on June 2, 1943, as they served as wingmen to pilots of the during World War II.

[8] Campbell received the Distinguished Flying Cross on New Year's Day 1945; the medal was presented to him by Brigadier General Dean C.

[9] Three months later, on March 31, 1945, Campbell participated in a mission of the 332d Fighter Group to destroy railroad and other targets in the area surrounding Munich, Germany.

[10] On April 15, 1945, Campbell participated in another strafing mission of railroad targets in the areas around Munich, Salzburg, Linz, Plzeň, and Regensburg.

[13] Over the course of World War II, Campbell actively served in the Sicilian and Italian campaigns and flew 106 missions, becoming the first African American pilot to drop a bomb on enemy targets in United States history.

After his retirement from active duty in 1970, Campbell taught Defense Resource Management at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, for 13 years[3] and was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen Commission established by the State of Alabama.