Lynchburg resident and former Tuskegee Airman prepares to celebrate 100th birthday

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Lynchburg resident and former Tuskegee Airman prepares to celebrate 100th birthday

Shannon Kelly Dec 15, 2020

Just after Christmas Day, a Lynchburg resident and former Tuskegee Airman will turn a century old.

After graduating from Dunbar High School, Alfred Thomas Farrar left his hometown of Lynchburg for Tuskegee, Alabama, where he began training as a Tuskegee Airman. A high school teacher of Alfred’s, Mr. White, notified Alfred of the opportunity and encouraged him to pursue flying. ... “It was the next best thing to do,” Alfred said of joining.

Begun in 1941 during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were the first all-Black unit of aviators in the American Air Corps, a precursor to the United States Air Force. At that time, the military — like most of the rest of the United States — was still segregated. In spite of racial discrimination, the Tuskegee Airmen proved to be successful and skilled pilots and mechanics, valuable to the war effort.

In training with the Tuskegee Institute, Alfred most remembers learning to fly. Other subjects taught included meteorology and navigation. Alfred did not fly any missions overseas, remaining stateside during his service and rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant before being discharged in 1943.

After his time as a Tuskegee Airman, Alfred lived in New York, where he studied and trained to be an aerospace engineer. His studies led him to work as an engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration where he had a 40-year career, primarily focusing on aircraft engines. Throughout his career, Alfred kept up on developing knowledge and technology surrounding aerospace engineering and engine specifications.

{snip}

Shannon Kelly
[phone]

[mahina]

1. Happy birthday to him!

!