Clarence C. Jamison: Difference between revisions

'''Clarence Clifford “Jamie” Jamison''' (February 25, 1918 – March 6, 2014) was an [[U.S. Army Air Force]] officer and combat fighter pilot with the [[332nd Fighter Group]]'s [[99th Fighter Squadron]], best known as the [[Tuskegee Airmen]], "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots.<ref name="auto1"> Air Force- Together We Served. "Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: Brooks, Sidney P., 2nd Lt, USAAF Veteran." https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=172037 </ref> He was a member of Tuskegee Airmen's second-ever aviation cadet program and one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.<ref name="CAF2">{{cite web |title=Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster |url=https://cafriseabove.org/the-tuskegee-airmen/tuskegee-airmen-pilot-roster/ |website=CAF Rise Above |publisher=CAF Rise Above |access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref><ref> Air Force- Together We Served. name="Roll of Honor, U.S. Air Force -Fallen: Brooks, Sidney P., 2nd Lt, USAAF Veteran.auto1" https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=172037 </ref><ref name="auto3"> Caf Rise Above. "Clarence C. Jamison." https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

Clarence Jamison was born on February 25, 1918 in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]].<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref> He was the third child of Richard Henry Jamison (1890–1960), a wholesale drug store order clerk, and Sallie Thelma Jamison (1894–1965).<ref name="auto2"> Find a Grave. "LTC Clarence Clifford “Jamie” Jamison." https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/131468899/clarence-clifford-jamison </ref> Jamison's siblings included older brothers Sterling Jamison and Thurston Jamison, and younger siblings Rae Jamison, Alvin Jamison, and Richard Jamison.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

In 1923, Richard Sr. and Sallie moved five-year old Clarence and their oldest children to [[Cleveland, Ohio]], leaving Clarence's grandparents, Edward Stewart and Callie Stewart, and the Clarence's younger siblings back in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]. In 1924, the entire family reunited in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]].<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

Jamison attended [[Little Rock, Arkansas]]'s Bolton Elementary School and [[Little Rock Central High School]].<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref> After graduating from Central, Jamison attended the [[University of Chicago]] where he majored in pre-medicine and medical bacteriology, lived with an uncle in Chicago, and worked a part-time job as a bookkeeping machine operator.<ref name="auto4"> The Plain Dealer. "Tuskegee Airman Clarence C. Jamison dies at 96." Brian Albrecht, The Plain Dealer. Jan 12, 2019; Posted Mar 12, 2014. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/03/tuskegee_airman_clarence_c_jam.html </ref><ref> Stan Stokes Artist. "Tuskegee Airman Clarence Jamison." https://stanstokes.art/blog/stan-stokes-painting-of-tuskegee-airman-clarence-jamison/ </ref> While at Chicago, Jamison pledged [[Kappa Alpha Psi]] Fraternity Inc.'s Iota Chapter.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

Jamison was married to his wife Phyllis L. Piersawl Jamison for 53 years until her death.<ref> The Plain Dealer. name="Tuskegee Airman Clarence C. Jamison dies at 96.auto4" Brian Albrecht, The Plain Dealer. Jan 12, 2019; Posted Mar 12, 2014. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/03/tuskegee_airman_clarence_c_jam.html </ref> They had two children: Michal Jamison Offutt and son, Clarence C. Jamison Jr.<ref> The Plain Dealer. name="Tuskegee Airman Clarence C. Jamison dies at 96.auto4" Brian Albrecht, The Plain Dealer. Jan 12, 2019; Posted Mar 12, 2014. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/03/tuskegee_airman_clarence_c_jam.html </ref> They had four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.<ref> The Plain Dealer. name="Tuskegee Airman Clarence C. Jamison dies at 96.auto4" Brian Albrecht, The Plain Dealer. Jan 12, 2019; Posted Mar 12, 2014. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/03/tuskegee_airman_clarence_c_jam.html </ref>

Interested in becoming a pilot, Jamison applied for the federal government-sponsored Civilian Pilot Training Program.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref> In 1940, Jamison earned his civilian pilot’s license, accumulating 72 hours of ground training and 50 hours of flight training.<ref> The Plain Dealer. name="Tuskegee Airman Clarence C. Jamison dies at 96.auto4" Brian Albrecht, The Plain Dealer. Jan 12, 2019; Posted Mar 12, 2014. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/03/tuskegee_airman_clarence_c_jam.html </ref> He soon applied for the U.S. Army Air Force's Tuskegee Army Air Field training program. Never receiving a response, Jamison wrote First Lady [[Eleanor Roosevelt]], a staunch proponent of Tuskegee's program. Five weeks later, Jamison was accepted as a Tuskegee Army Air Field training program cadet, enlisting August 21, 1941.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

On April 29, 1942, Jamison graduated as a member of the Single Engine Section Class SE-42-D. His fellow graduates included 2nd Lt [[Sidney P. Brooks]] and 2nd Lt [[Charles W. Dryden]].<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref> The U.S. Army Air Corps assigned Jamison to the 332nd Fighter Group's [[99th Fighter Squadron]].

In January 1944, Jamison led his squadron on a patrol mission where it encountered a massive formation of enemy German fighter planes attacking Allied ground positions. Outnumbered two-to-one, Jamison's squadron took the enemy head-on, shooting down five enemy aircraft.<ref name="auto"> The Plain Dealer. Obituary. "CLARENCE C. "Jamie" JAMISON." https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/clarence-jamison-obituary?pid=170130655 </ref>

After [[World War II]], Jamison continued to serve, including assignments as an accounting and finance officer.<ref> The Plain Dealer. name="Tuskegee Airman Clarence C. Jamison dies at 96.auto4" Brian Albrecht, The Plain Dealer. Jan 12, 2019; Posted Mar 12, 2014. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2014/03/tuskegee_airman_clarence_c_jam.html </ref> After 22 years in the [[U.S. Army Air Corps]] and [[U.S. Air Force]], Jamison retired in 1963 with the rank of [[Lt. Colonel]].<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

Jamison worked for the Social Security Administration, retiring after 23 years there.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

* [[Air Medal]] with seven oak leaf clusters<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

* Tuskegee University awarded Jamison an Honorary Doctor of Public Service.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

* The City of Cleveland gave Jamison the key to its city.<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>

Jamison's life is described in the book, "Memories from Tuskegee: The Life Story of Lieutenant Colonel Clarence C. Jamison as told to James Christ."<ref> Caf Rise Above. name="Clarence C. Jamison.auto3" https://cafriseabove.org/clarence-c-jamison/ </ref>