Tuskegee Airman dies at 90

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SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) --  A World War II fighter pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen died Jan. 27 at the age of 90. He died of coronary complications at New York Hospital in New York City.

Lt. Col. Lee Archer entered the Army in November 1941 and received training as a telegrapher and field network-communications specialist. In December 1942, he was accepted into aviation cadet training and reported to the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Ala.

On July 28, 1943, after graduating number one in his class and receiving his commission as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron under the 332nd Fighter Group. The group was transferred to Italy during World War II.

Colonel Archer flew 169 combat missions in the P-51C Mustang, flying cover and escorting long-range bombers over more than 11 countries, as well as strafing missions against enemy landing zones and troops on the ground.

He was initially credited with four and a half aerial victories, after his wingman was also credited with helping down one of enemy aircraft. A review 50 years later restored the full kill, noting that the wingman had fired a burst at the stricken Bf 109 Messerschmitt, but only after Colonel Archer had already inflicted the crippling damage that disintegrated the enemy fighter's left wing and sent it spiraling toward the ground.

Colonel Archer held numerous post-war leadership and staff positions including chief of protocol for the French Liaison Office, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe; White House Air Force-France project officer; chief or executive officer of three international military organizations including the SHAPE Liaison Office, the 36th North American Air Defense Division and Headquarters U.S. Air Force Southern Command in Panama.

Colonel Archer was among the group of Tuskegee Airmen invited to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009. In addition, he and approximately 300 other surviving Tuskegee Airmen were presented the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by Congress, in 2007 by President George W. Bush.

Colonel Archer enjoyed continuing success in civilian life, as vice president for urban affairs at General Foods Corporation; CEO of North Street Capital Corp.; and chairman of Hudson Commercial Corp. He also served on the Board of Directors of Beatrice International Foods and the Institute for American Business, a General Motors venture capital subsidiary.

He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and received special citations from Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, along with the Director of the CIA. Archer retired as a lieutenant colonel after 29 years of service and resided in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Nearly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen earned their wings and officer commissions in the Army Air Corps during World War II. More than 400 experienced combat over the skies of Europe; they comprised the 99th, 100th, 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons that eventually formed the 332nd Fighter Group. American bomber crews called them the "Redtail Angels" because of their bright red tail assemblies and their disciplined defense of bombers from enemy fighters.

The pilots earned more than 150 major awards and distinctions, including Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Legions of Merit and a Presidential Unit Citation. Colonel Archer's honors included an Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, a Distinguished Flying Cross, 19 Air Medals and a Distinguished Unit Citation.

The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, is descended from the 332nd FG. The wing held a memorial service for Colonel Archer at the Gilbert Memorial Chapel Feb. 1.

(Information compiled from Air Force News Service and 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing staff reports.)