Thomas Ellis (Tuskegee Airman)

Sgt. Major Thomas Ellis (June 29, 1920 – January 2, 2018) from San Antonio, Texas, was a member of the famed group of World War II-era African-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He served in the 301st Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group during WWII.

Sergeant Major Thomas Ellis
Thomas Ellis 1944
Birth name	Thomas Marvin Ellis
Born	(1920-06-29)June 29, 1920
Died	January 2, 2018(2018-01-02) (aged 97) San Antonio, Texas
Buried	Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery^[1]
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Force
Years of service	1942-1945
Rank	Sergeant Major^[2]
Unit	301st Fighter Squadron 332nd Fighter Group
Awards	Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Tuskegee Airmen
Spouse(s)	Janie

Early life and education

Ellis grew up in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from Wheatley High School He attended Samuel Huston College in Austin. He married his wife Janie in early 1942.^[1]

Military service

 

The Tuskegee Airmen's aircraft had distinctive markings that led to the name, "Red Tails."^{[N 1]}

 

P-51C Mustang fighters from the 332nd Fighter Group at Ramitelli Airfield, with goats (March 1945)

He was drafted into the Army in June 1942^[1] and was sent to basic training in Newport News, VA and in October 1942 he was assigned to Tuskegee with the 99th Fighter Squadron.^[4] When Ellis arrived at Tuskegee Army Airfield in 1942 he was the only member 301st Fighter Squadron.^[1] In 1944 he was sent to Ramitelli Air Base in Italy with the Tuskegee Airmen 301st Fighter Squadron. He was an administrator and served under Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. with the 332nd Fighter Group’s transfer to Taranto Italy.^[4] He achieved the rank of sergeant major and earned seven battle stars.^[1][2] He was discharged in September, 1945.^[4]

Later life

When he returned from the war he worked as a USPS mail carrier until his retirement in 1984.^[4] He died of a stroke January 2, 2018 and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.^[2]

Awards

• Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen in 2006^[5]
• Battle Stars (7)

See also

• Executive Order 9981
• List of Tuskegee Airmen
• Military history of African Americans

Further reading

• The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949^[6]

References

1. Christensen, Sig (January 9, 2018). "Thomas Ellis, a Tuskegee Airman, is dead at 97". Hearst Communications, Inc. My San Antonio News. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
2. Fannin, John (January 10, 2018). "Remembering Tuskegee Airman Thomas Ellis". Military Times. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
3. Rice, Markus. "The Men and Their Airplanes: The Fighters." Tuskegee Airmen, 1 March 2000.
4. "Thomas Marvin Ellis". CAF Rise Above. CAF Rise Above. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
5. Rangel, Charles B. (April 11, 2006). "Tuskegee Airmen Gold Medal Signed Into Law". Press Release. United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
6. Caver, Joseph; Ennels, Jerome A.; Haulman, Daniel Lee (2011). The Tuskegee Airmen: An Illustrated History, 1939-1949. Montgomery: New South Books. p. 394. ISBN 978-1588382443. Retrieved February 6, 2020.

Notes

1. The red markings that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen included red bands on the noses of P-51s as well as a red rudder; their P-51B and D Mustangs flew with similar color schemes, with red propeller spinners, yellow wing bands and all-red tail surfaces.^[3]

External links

• at Tuskegee University
• Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
• Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
• Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
• Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
• Fly (2009 play about the 332d Fighter Group)