Donald Elder

Segment Synopsis: Donald Elder was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1928. Mr. Elder served with the 99th Fighter Squadron, one of the squadrons of the distinguished Tuskegee Airmen. He trained as a specialty mechanic on the P-47 Thunderbolt and served as a Flight Chief at Lockbourne Air Force Base. He continued his career in aviation with North American Aviation where he became the first black Crew Chief.

Subjects: Introduction

Segment Synopsis: Elder was born in Columbus, Ohio, 1928. He was the second-oldest of his siblings, which included seven boys and four girls.His father worked at Curtiss-Wright and served as the neighborhood Air Warden. He describes his neighborhood and it's people as integrated. Elder also talks of his schooling.

Keywords: Aeronautics; Columbus (Ohio); Curtiss-Wright Corp.; Families; Military history

Subjects: Columbus; Family; Family's Military History; Neighborhood

Segment Synopsis: Elder played hooky from school to enlist at Fort Hayes. He was sent to Camp Atterbury, Indiana and then to Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. In Texas he witnessed a riot on the drill field before being sent to Scott Field St. Louis, IL where he completed his basic training. Then he went to aviation mechanic school at Keesler Field in Biloxi, MS. Elder discusses the meaning of Squadron-K.

Keywords: Basic Training; Camp Atterbury (Ind.); Fort Hayes (Ohio); Keesler Air Force Base; Mechanic School; Recruiting and enlistment; Scott Air Force Base (Ill.); Squadron K

Subjects: Basic training; Camp Atterbury; Enlistment; Fort Hayes; Keesler Air Force Base (Miss.); Mechanic; Scott Air Force Base

Segment Synopsis: After Elder finishes his Aviation Mechanics School he is transferred to Chanute Air Force Base to become a P-47 specialist mechanic. He is then assigned to the 99th Fighter Squadron and participates in combat readiness trainings at various Air Force Bases around the Country. He relates a story of some of his men being given a hard time by a 2nd Lieutenant at Turner Air Force Base (Naval Air Station Albany), and another example of the racism they faced.

Keywords: Chanute Air Force Base (Ill.); Eglin Air Force Base (Fla.); Lockbourne (Ohio); Myrtle Beach Air Force Base (S.C.); Racism; Thunderbolt (Fighter plane); United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Squadron, 99th

Subjects: 99th Fighter Squadron; Combat Readiness Training; Lockbourne Air Force Base; Temporary Duty Assignments

Segment Synopsis: Elder talks about Lockbourne Air Base, what his jobs were there, and some of the people he met and with whom he stayed in touch. He also speaks of some of the airplanes in which he got to fly including the B-25 and P-61.

Keywords: Black Widow (Night fighter plane); Columbus (Ohio); Eglin Air Force Base (Fla.); Johnson, Buford; Lockbourne (Ohio); Mitchell (Bomber); Reunions

Subjects: B-25 Mitchell; Lockbourne Air Force Base; P-61 Black Widow; Tuskegee Reunions

Segment Synopsis: On January 20, 1949, Elder's unit was asked to march in the inaugural parade for President Harry S. Truman. He left the Army Air Force in March of 1949 and by April he was working for Curtiss-Wright/North American Aviation. He speaks of his work, what they did for fun, and how he became the Jackie Robinson of the Aviation Service Industry. Elder relates a story of a time he was not allowed to stay at Holiday Inn because of his race.

Keywords: AJ-2P Savage; B-29 (Bomber); Bolling Air Force Base (Washington, D.C.); Chapman, Dean Francis; Curtiss-Wright; Helldiver (Dive bomber); McLinn, C.J.; North American Aviation; Presidents--Inauguration; Racism; Roller-skating; T-6 (Training plane); Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972; United Auto Workers, Local 927 (Columbus, OH); Vigilante (Bomber); Wisner, Jim

Subjects: C.J. McLinn; Curtiss-Wright/North American Aviation; Newspaper Delivery; Racism; Recreation; Truman Inauguration; Workplace Advancement

Segment Synopsis: Elder leaves the aviation industry to become the Chief of Labor Relations for the Department of Corrections. He worked for the State in a variety of departments until he retired in 1994 and moved to Texas.

Keywords: Department of Aging; Department of Corrections; Department of Youths' Services; Geno Natalucci-Persichetti; Industrial relations; McLin, C.J.

Subjects: Working for the State of Ohio

Segment Synopsis: Elder moves to Texas to be near his wife's family when he takes a job with Bell Helicopter as the Manager of Diversity. In Texas he joins the branch of the Tuskegee Airmen and becomes the Chairman of the Minority Achievers. Through these organizations he told the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Keywords: Bell Helicopter Corporation; Cone, Robert; Fort Worth (Tex.); Williams, Roger

Subjects: Bell Helicopter; Minority Achievers; Tuskegee Airmen

Segment Synopsis: Elder talks about being part of President Barack Obama's inauguration and meeting President George W. Bush.

Keywords: Marine Corp Base Quantico; President Barrack Obama; President George W. Bush

Subjects: Meeting President George W. Bush; The Inauguration of President Barack Obama

Segment Synopsis: Elder talks about a run-in with a Ohio State Reformatory inmate. He discusses the things he learned while in the Army Air Force, why he would do it all over again, and who the Tuskegee Airmen were.

Keywords: Discrimination; Goodfellow Air Force Base (Tex.); Ohio State Reformatory

Subjects: Ohio State Reformatory; Tuskegee Airmen; discrimination

Segment Synopsis: Elder talks about the 1946 riot at Sheppard Air Force Base and his return to the base in 2002. He also discusses his civil rights work.

Keywords: Civil rights; North American Aviation; Recruiting and enlistment; Riots; Sheppard Air Force Base (Tex.)

Subjects: Civil rights; Sheppard Air Force Base riot

Segment Synopsis: Elder talks about playing sports, riding in jets, and receiving the Congressional Gold Medal.

Keywords: Albatross (Jet trainer); Archer, Lee, 1919-2010; Congressional Gold Medal; Rangel, Charles B.; Sports; United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Squadron, 99th; Vigilante (Bomber); discrimination

Subjects: Congressional Gold Medal; Discrimination; Flying in planes; Sports