Mitchell Higginbotham
| Mitchell Higginbotham | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 2, 1921 Amherst, Virginia |
| Died | February 14, 2016 (aged 94) Rancho Mirage, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | U.S. Army Air Force |
| Years active | 1942-1946 (active), 1946-1962 (reserve) |
| Known for | Tuskegee Airmen |
| Relatives | Robert Higginbotham (brother) |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal |
Mitchell Higginbotham (March 2, 1921 – February 14, 2016) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer who was a member of the famed African American World War II fighter group known as the Tuskegee Airmen.[1][2]
Contents
Biography[edit]
Early life[edit]
Higginbotham was born on March 2, 1921 [1] in Amherst, Virginia to Plinkam L Higginbotham and Hester Higginbotham. [3] He has a younger brother, Robert, who also became a member of the U.S. military.[4]
Military career[edit]
Higginbotham joined the U.S. military in the summer 1942.[1] He subsequently was accepted into the Tuskegee Army Airfield Class TE-44-K from which he graduated on February 1, 1945 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant.[1] Higginbotham became one of the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen when he was assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group.[1] He served on active duty through the end of World War II; in 1946, he left active duty but continued as a member of the U.S. Army Air Force Reserves.[1] He initially flew fighter aircraft but eventually moved up to flying B-52s.[4]
Higginbotham's younger brother Robert also joined the military during World War II two years after his older brother; however, Robert Higginbotham became a pilot for the Navy Air Corps.[4]
Higginbotham was one of 100 black servicemen who were arrested for attempting to enter an officers club reserved for white officers.[4] This event became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny;[4] it is widely seen as a key moment in the path towards full integration of the U.S. Armed Services.[5]
Civilian career[edit]
Following his years of active duty, Higginbotham went to work for the Los Angeles Airport Advisory Committee, working as a registrar at the Pittsburg Airport.[1] He also served as a probation officer for nearly thirty years.[1]
Awards[edit]
Higginbotham and his brother Robert both attended the ceremony in 2007 where the Congressional Gold Medal was collectively awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen for their contributions during World War II.[4] He also received "Man of the Year" Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc in 1996.[1]
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
Articles[edit]
- Thomas-Lester, Avis (August 4, 2011). "Tuskegee Airmen's ranks may be smaller, but these veterans are still flying high". Washington Post. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
Archival resources[edit]
- Mitchell Higginbotham Papers (6.25 linear feet) are housed in the Special Collections & Archives of the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Guide to the Mitchell Higginbotham Papers". Regents of the University of California. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
- ^ "Tuskegee Airman of Rancho Mirage dies at 94". The Desert Sun. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ^ 1930 Federal Census
- ^ a b c d e f "Tuskegee Airman from Sewickley reflects on obstacles". Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
- ^ Francis, Charles E. (1997). Adolph Caso, ed. The Tuskegee airmen : the men who changed a nation (4th ed.). Boston: Branden. pp. 231–255. ISBN 9780828320290.
External links[edit]
- Los Angeles Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen at Tuskegee University
- Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California, Riverside Libraries.
- Tuskegee Airman from Sewickley reflects on obstacles
- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)
- Tuskegee Airmen National Museum
