By Leighann Lord
I was saddened to learn that Spann Watson, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, passed away on April 16, 2010. I had the pleasure of meeting him in February and wrote a brief blog about the experience. I feel terrible that I never got around to posting it. I do so now to honor his memory and his invaluable contribution to American History.
I seem to be spending a lot of time with men in uniform. I recently had the pleasure of meeting retired Lieutenant Colonel Spann Watson. Who’s that? During World War II he served as a P-51 Mustang pilot with the famed Tuskegee Airmen’s 99th Fighter Squadron. I’m running in very historical circles.
We were both part of a Black History Month program for The Food & Drug Administration. Lt. Watson — one of the 388 known living airmen — was the keynote speaker. A sharply dressed 93 year-old with perfect posture, it was thrilling to hear him regale the audience with stories of his childhood, seeing Charles Lindberg fly, attending Morehouse college and what things were like for black service men.
During World War II, the 332nd Fighter Group (which the 99th Fighter Squadron later fell under) was involved in 1,578 combat missions with no pilot losses. The Tuskegee Airmen damaged or destroyed 409 enemy aircraft, garnering 744 air medals, including 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Congressional Gold Medal.
Lt. Watson reminded us of time when it was widely believed that black men wouldn’t make good soldiers or pilots. The audience cracked up when he said, “If you think black men can’t fight, then go outside and grab one.”
I hope I’m still that funny at 93.
© 2010 Leighann Lord
A very funny lady on the stage and on the page, stand-up comedian Leighann Lord pens a weekly humor column with topics ranging from the personal to the political, from the silly to the sophisticated. Reminiscent of a modern day Erma Bombeck (famed nationally syndicated humor columnist), a fan dubbed Leighann, “The Urban Erma” and the name stuck. It’s a fun, fast read that leaves you laughing, or at least wondering why we don’t have a comprehensive mental health care plan. Follow Leighann on Twitter and be a fan on Facebook.
