Elyria native, Tuskegee Airman honored with street sign dedication

ELYRIA — On April 5, 1945, Elyria native Ferrier White went missing in action when his airplane crashed into the Adriatic Sea between Italy and the Balkan coast. White was a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces and a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the group of Black pilots and support staff who fought in the Second World War despite being segregated from their white comrades. The actions of the Tuskegee Airmen went largely unrecognized for decades after the war, but on Friday, the 79th anniversary of White's disappearance, Elyria took a step to correct that oversight. The city, the Elyria Black Legacy Connection and the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission placed a street sign in White's honor near the corner of South Maple Street and Oberlin Road, in front of his childhood home. White's niece, Leslie Price, at the ceremony told the story of her uncle and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen, which included her own father. "Today, on the anniversary of his ultimate sacrifice, we come together to immortalize his memory by naming this street in his honor," Price said. "It serves as a tangible reminder of his strong spirit and the sacrifices made by countless others, including my own father Charles Price, who fought for the right to sit in an airplane cockpit even though they could not sit at their local lunch counters." White was one of the 66 members of the Tuskegee Airmen killed in combat during their operations, from 1941 through 1946. Black pilots were approved to serve in the U.S. military for the first time on Jan. 16, 1941, with the first unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, being activated in March 1941. The pilots were trained at facilities — segregated from their white counterparts— in Tuskegee, Alabama. Tuskegee, meaning "warrior," gets its name from a Creek Native American settlement in the area. It became the collective identifier for the 992 Black pilots who completed their training in Tuskegee. "My uncle's journey as a Tuskegee Airman symbolizes the triumph of the human spirit over adversity," Price said. "Despite facing systemic discrimination and prejudice, he answered the call of duty with unyielding determination, exemplifying selflessness and bravery." According to the Elyria Black Legacy Connection, a nonprofit that seeks to preserve and honor the history of Black Elyrians, White was born in Elyria in 1921. He played football for Elyria High School, wearing number 34, and graduated in 1939. The White family moved to South Park Street in Oberlin after his graduation and in January 1942 Ferrier White enlisted in the Army. White was assigned to the 100th Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, the all-Black fighter group also called the "Red Tails" on account of the bright red markings distinguishing its planes. He rose to the rank of second lieutenant, but on April 5, 1945, his plane, likely a red-tipped P-51 Mustang, crashed into the Adriatic Sea and White was declared missing in action. White's remains were never recovered, and his name is one of 1,409 listed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Florence American Cemetery in Florence, Italy. After the war, the Tuskegee Airmen were largely lost in the American memory and popular culture surrounding the war. Black Legacy Connection founder Ethan West said that White's memory was mostly lost too, to all but his family. "This is what it is all about, making sure that our shared legacy is learned and shared," West said. "This (dedication) went a long way in honoring the memory and legacy of a hero who was lost to our minds and our presence for decades." Price was not the only member of White's family present at the ceremony. She was joined by her mother — Ferrier White's sister — Sara Price, 95, and her cousin Jean Stacey. "On behalf of my family. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who made this moment possible," Price said. "Your unwavering support and recognition mean more than words can express." West said the presence of White's family, and about 100 other veterans and community members, made the event about more than just preserving history. "It was a powerful moment," he said. "His sister was there and anyone who saw her, at the age of 95, and the smile on her face, they saw something special." Price said that the sign dedicated to her uncle was a symbol of what he fought for, both his country and his right to serve it on equal footing with any white soldier. "To have his name etched upon this street is not just a gesture," she said. "It is a testament to the profound impact he had on our lives and the lives of generations to come. It is a beacon of hope and inspiration to all who walk these streets, reminding us of the power of perseverance and the importance of standing up for what's right." Despite being segregated from the bulk of the Army Air Force (the U.S. Air Force was not founded until 1947), the Tuskegee Airmen excelled during World War II. The 322nd Fighter Group operated bomber escort missions and, according to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, only 27 Tuskegee Airmen-escorted bombers were lost. The other six fighter groups operating in the Fifteenth Air Force lost, on average, 46 bombers. According to historian Daniel Haulman, during their time with the Fifteenth Air Force, the squadrons of the 322nd "gained a reputation for excellence." When White was lost on April 5, he was participating in the joint U.S. and British offensive against the Nazi German forces occupying northern Italy. Just under a month after White's disappearance, all German forces in Italy surrendered. The U.S. Armed Forces were not desegregated until more than three years after White's death, on July 26, 1948, when President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for honoring the legacy of my uncle, a Tuskegee Airman whose spirit will forever soar among us," White said. "The men that challenged America's racist attitudes with a willingness to give their lives in service of this country." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com. Contact Bruce Bishop at bbishop@chroniclet.com.