General Benjamin Oliver Davis, was the first African-American brigadier general in the USAF. During World War II, Davis was commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group which escorted combers on air combat missions over Europe. Davis flew sixty missions in P-39, Curtiss P-40, P-47 and P-51 Mustang fighters and was one of the first African-American pilots to see combat. Under his command the 99 Pursuit Squadron "Tuskegee Airmen" became the most dependable pursuit escort unit in the USAAF and his team went from being outcasts to being specifically requested by bomber units-- hence the title of his aircraft.
