13 Facts About Alexander Jefferson

Alexander Jefferson served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Alexander Jefferson's book, Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW, is a personal memoir of those who served America in World War II and after.

Alexander Jefferson's maternal great-grandfather William Jefferson White was born to a slave woman and a white slave owner in the 1830s.

Alexander Jefferson attended Craft Elementary School, Munger Intermediate School, and Chadsey High School, graduating in 1938, the only African-American to take college preparatory classes.

Alexander Jefferson was sent to prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III in Poland, a specialist Luftwaffe-run camp for captured Allied Air Force personnel.

Alexander Jefferson was then moved to Stalag VII-A, just outside Dachau.

Alexander Jefferson served as an instrument instructor at Tuskegee Army airfield, until it closed in 1946.

Alexander Jefferson remained in the US Air Force reserve, finally retiring in 1969.

In 1947 Alexander Jefferson received his teaching certificate from Wayne State University, and began teaching elementary school science for the Detroit Public School System.

Alexander Jefferson retired in 1979 as an assistant principal, after over 30 years service.

Alexander Jefferson died in his home city, Detroit, Michigan on June 22,2022, at the age of 100.

In 1995, Alexander Jefferson was enshrined in the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame.

On March 29,2007, Alexander Jefferson attended a ceremony in the US Capitol rotunda, where he and all the other members of the Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service.