World War II Honoree

Lemuel Rodney Custis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hartford, Connecticut

Honored By

Charles Henry Atkinson

First Class of Tuskegee Airmen, began the military pilot training classes in July, 1941. successfully completed the training in March, 1942. Appointed Squadron Operations Officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron, he served in the European Mediterranean Theater of operations. As a pilot, he was in the battle at Anzio, Italy, where a beachhead was established in early 1944. In order to liberate Rome, it was necessary to go through Anzio. During the battle, on January 27, 1944, he shot down an enemy aircraft, a FW-190. When the war ended, he returned to Tuskegee Army Air Field where he served as a flight instructor. Discharged from active military service in 1946.