Warbird Information Exchange

Tuskegee Airman, 90, Dies in NYC
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 28, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) -- Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Lee A. Archer, a decorated member of the Tuskegee Airmen, has died. He was 90.

His son, Roy Archer, says his father died in a Manhattan hospital Wednesday night. The cause of death was not immediately determined.

Archer was an ace pilot in America's first black fighter group in World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen fought with distinction but faced segregation when they returned home. The group was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 from President George W. Bush.

After serving in the military, Archer, of New Rochelle, N.Y., joined General Foods Corp. in the early 1970s and became a corporate vice president.

Archer was among the Tuskegee Airmen who attended President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009.

Funeral services have yet to be announced.

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

Another hero gone from us-a salute to him for all the incredible sacrifices he went through to defend a country that barely recognized his right to exist, and thanks for doing that for 'us'.
The man deserves and earned a flyover at his funeral-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Had the honor of meeting him at the Gathering of Mustangs. What a legend, and all around nice man.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I met him at Oshkosh a few years back. A very nice man. God's speed Colonel

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Very sad news... he was indeed a great man. Blue skies sir.

Richard

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Richard Mallory Allnutt - Photography - http://www.rmallnutt.com

At Oshkosh I think in 2001, next to Kermit's P-51, I asked him about Ina the Macon Belle, figuring she was probably an old girlfriend, and he told me that she had died a few years previously, they had been married for something like 45 or 50 years. He said that he originally named the airplane "The Macon Belle" but didn't want to tell the other guys who she was. Said he was still angry at the squadron Intelligence Officer, who censored the mail, and let the secret out, then his squadron mates made him add "Ina" to the name. Very interesting guy, and of course a real patriot.




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http://www.biplanerides1.com/

another loss to the profession indeed!

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S.

Blue skies and tailwinds Colonel Archer

Our prayers go out to Col. Archer and his family.

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Our condolences to Colonel Archer's family and friends.

Scott and Ellen

I am sorry to see his passing.
At the dinner at the first Mustang reunion in Florida, I was seated with him at a small table. He seemed to be very friendly and and a down to earth guy, with no star pretense, a gentleman.
I saw him a few times over the years, just to say hello, and he always was the same.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Good bye, thank you for your service, and God Bless your soul. Met the man once, and I'm thankful and honored to have.
Condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Godspeed!

Rich

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I was lucky to have met Lee Archer several times, initially at OSH whenKermit brought "Ina the Macon Belle".
The last time I spoke with Lee I was volunteering at the Gathering of Mustangs & Legends in OH. I was driving an empty golf cart to deliver some radios and then to pick-up some of the line-crew volunteers and saw that Lee and some of his family was walking in that heat and in the crowds. I immediately worked my way over to Lee and asked if I could drive him and his family somewhere.
He initially turned me down, you know, saying something like "don't bother".
I insisted he had earned the right to be driven somewhere at an event honoring him and insisted he let me drive him wherever he was going. His family convinced him to accept my offer and off we went.
Turns out he was going clear across from one end of the flight line to the other end of the flight line - to the the hangar where they were taking pictures of "his" plane. I was pleased to have delivered him in time to have his picture taken with his a/c.
I had a very short conversation with him on our way. Always a gentleman in every respect of that word.
Did not have enough time to wait and take a picture of him next to "Ina" as I had to go get my fellow volunteers on the job and deliver those radios.
I have no doubt he is enjoying blue skies and tail winds now.
John

I lost a friend last year, another Tuskegee Fighter Pilot and one great guy, Luther Smith. Luther, as did Archer and many more of the Tuskegee airman, went on after the war to successful business careers.
I'll miss Luther. He used twin crutches to walk but was always smiling. We would spend quality time hashing on about our Mustangs.
The world can ill afford losing fine men like these.

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Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship