Thursday, October 8, 2009

First American Indian to fly for the Navy

Reported in the Washington Times today, 87 year old Tom Oxendine, was reported to be the first Native American Indian to fly in the Navy despite strict segregation policies. During WWII he served as a pilot flying the 02SU Kingfisher off of the USS Mobile during the Pacific campaign. He was awarded the DFC for heroic action in rescuing a downed airman off of Yap Island in 1944.