AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - 12

AOPA ACTION

AOPA honors World War II vet
Hero is feted on his 100th birthday at headquarters

12 | AOPA PILOT February 2020

BAKER ON THE NEWS

"Col. McGee and his fellow
Tu s ke g e e A i r m e n ove rc a m e
struggles many of us could never
imagine. May his legacy and the
legacy of his fellow airmen live on
forever and may that legacy help
to inspire the next generation
of pilots-especially young and
minority pilots-to never give up
on their dreams."
-AOPA President Mark Baker

and performed fighter sweeps against German
targets. In addition to the P-51 Mustang,
McGee also flew the Bell P-39Q Airacobra
and the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. He
completed 138 combat missions.
McGee was on active duty with the U.S.
Air Force until 1973. He flew combat missions
in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and logged
more than 6,000 flight hours. Since retirement, he has worked in real estate and airport
management, and he remains active with volunteer service. He is featured in the Red Tails
Rise Above traveling exhibit, a mobile movie
theater that tours the nation to educate and
inspire people with the history and lessons of
the Tuskegee Airmen. At press time, McGee
was set to be presented with an honorary promotion to brigadier general.
aopa.org/pilot/mcgee

DAVID TULIS

COL. CHARLES E. MCGEE, who flew
a P-51 Mustang as a member of the
Tuskegee Airmen during World
War II, celebrated his 100th birthday by climbing into the left seat
of a Cirrus Vision Jet and a Cessna
Citation M2. The two-day celebration (McGee turned 100 on
December 7) began with the Cirrus
flight on Friday, December 6, and a
flight with AOPA President Mark
Baker in the Citation on Saturday.
But McGee wasn't just along
for the ride.
"He flew us," said Boni Caldeira,
executive director of aircraft sales
for Cirrus. Caldeira sat right seat for McGee's birthday trip, which launched from
AOPA headquarters at the Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Maryland.
"I was basically there to talk to air traffic control," Caldeira said.
Saturday's flight with Baker confirmed McGee's skill. "He's in charge, that
was for sure," said Baker (see "Waypoints: A Century of Perseverance," p. 18).
McGee flew Friday to Delaware, where he was greeted by more than 100 U.S.
Air Force personnel at Dover Air Force Base, and then back to Frederick. Saturday
an honor guard of re-enactors helped launch the flight in the Citation. Both events
were highlighted by parties in the AOPA National Aviation Community Center
hangar. The birthday recognition was organized by Vince Mickens of Private Air
Media Group, who served as master of ceremonies.
In a video message, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson called McGee "a
national treasure and an American icon. Because you prevailed, we in the aviation community have the benefit of your wisdom," Dickson said.
Pete Bunce, president and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers
Association, invited McGee to be part of the seventy-fifth commemoration of
the end of World War II in Europe, to be held in May 2020. "We are letting the
country know the dedication of your generation," Bunce said, adding that McGee
is invited to fly in the airplane of his choice in the Arsenal of Democracy flyover
of Washington, D.C.
McGee received proclamations from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, among other tributes.
McGee became an Army Air Corps aviation cadet in 1942, arriving at Tuskegee
Army Airfield in November of that year. He earned his wings and commission as a
second lieutenant in 1943, and eventually was stationed in Italy, where he performed
harbor and coastal patrols, strafed targets on the ground, protected bombers in the air,

http://www.aopa.org/pilot/mcgee

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020

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