with CMSgt. Grant Williams

Join the museum on Saturday, February 18th, as we welcome Chief Master Sergeant Grant Williams, Sr., USAF (Ret), one of the original Tuskegee Airmen.

Originally from Clover, Virginia, Williams entered the US Army Air Corps at Ft. Dix in 1942 and was sent to Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. He initially served in several clerk positions, including working with the Headquarters 96th Maintenance Group on the “Tuskegee Experiment”.

In January 1944, Williams went to Italy with the 96th ASG, and several months later, he was assigned to the 524th ASG which operated emergency landing fields.

Williams was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in connection with military operations in Italy from August 1944 through May 1945.

He returned to the United States in October 1945 and was discharged in November and immediately enlisted in the Reserve Forces.

CMSgt Williams was recalled to active duty in August 1950 and over the next 24 years, served administrative positions at both stateside and overseas assignments including Japan, Turkey and Vietnam.

Williams was awarded the Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) for meritorious service for his Vietnam duty from March 1971 through February 1972. He retired from his position at Langley AFB in June 1975.

CMSgt. Williams will talk about his experiences with the Tuskegee Airman and a flight of one of the museum’s WWII restored aircraft will fly immediately following his presentation.