Historic grouping of photographs, pins and patches from the estate of one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. 2nd Lt. Vincent Iver Mitchell was born and raised in Clinton Township, Michigan, the son of immigrants from British Guiana. Mitchell graduated from Mount Clemens High School in 1940 and trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield where he graduated in 1944. That year, Tuskegee Airman Mitchell became a member of the 99th Pursuit Fighter Squadron, later assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group. These pilots painted the tails of their aircraft red, and thus became known as the “Red Tails.” During his combat service in World War II, Mitchell received the Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Aerial Flight as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously in 2007. Mitchell died in 1980, leaving a wife and six children.

The Tuskegee Airmen need no introduction. A group of barrier-breaking African American fighter pilots and their supporting staff, they endured segregation and racism to become among the most distinguished groups of soldiers in American history. A large percentage of surviving Airmen-related material now rests in institutional collections, making this a rare private purchase opportunity. The lot includes a wonderful framed picture of Mitchell in his World War II uniform, on which are pinned several insignia that are also included in this grouping. The paper frame bears Mitchell’s signature and the number “44”, indicating that it was taken around the time of his graduation from the Tuskegee Institute. A stamp also on the frame indicates that the photo was made by a Mt. Clemens photographer, making it likely that it was made for his family immediately before shipping off to War. Importantly, other identified photographs of Mitchell exist in institutional collections, making this identification ironclad.
Most of the badges and insignia visible in the photo are included in this group, including Mitchell’s sterling silver pilot wings, aviation cadet pins, “US” collar insignia, and Army officer cap eagle badge. Also included are his Air Service patches and mounted ribbon bar, which indicates his service history. A note on the historic nature of the pilot wings: Mitchell was one of just 992 African Americans to earn them during World War II.
The final item in the lot is a mounted silvertone photograph of a fighter jet in flight. It is presumed that Mitchell himself is the pilot of this plane.
All items in this lot are in wonderful condition. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine Tuskegee Airmen archive.


[African-American History, Slave, Slavery, Abolition, Abolitionist, Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln, Civil War, Union, Confederate, Document, Letter] [Civil Rights, Martin Luther King Jr.] [Paper Ephemera] [Spanish American War, Span Am, World War One, World War 1, WW1, World War Two, World War II, WW2]