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Charles E. McGee papers
MS 272
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Title: Charles E. McGee papers
Date (inclusive): 1942-2009, undated
Date (bulk): 1950-1970
Collection Number: MS 272
Creator:
McGee, Charles E.
Extent:
1.51 linear feet
(4 boxes)
Repository:
Rivera Library. Special Collections Department.
Riverside, CA 92517-5900
Abstract: This collection contains memorandums, special orders, correspondence, administrative records, and other material pertaining
to Charles E. McGee, retired Colonel from the United States Air Force who compiled nearly 30 years of service and a record
of 409 aerial fighter combat missions. Includes personnel, financial, and flight records documenting McGee's military career.
A photograph of McGee and his military dress jacket are also included.
Languages: The collection is in English.
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition, the reproduction,
and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and
publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected by
copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other restrictions
apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility for
obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user
[identification of item], [date if possible]. Charles E. McGee papers (MS 272). Special Collections & University Archives,
University of California, Riverside.
Gifts of Charles E. McGee, 2015, and Monica Smith, 2023.
Processed by Alysia Thind and Bianca Lisek, Student Processing Assistants, 2015.
Processing of the Charles E. McGee papers was completed by undergraduate students from the University of California, Riverside
as part of the Special Collections & University Archives Backlog Processing Project started in 2015. This project was funded
by the UCR Library and administered by Bergis Jules, University and Political Papers Archivist, and Eric Milenkiewicz, Manuscripts
Curator.
Charles E. McGee was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 7, 1919. His father was a social worker, minister, and teacher, causing
their family to move around often during his childhood. In 1942, McGee was in the process of obtaining his degree in engineering
at the University of Illinois. However, soon after World War II began McGee enlisted in the United States Army and began his
service on October 26, 1942. After graduating from flight school McGee was stationed in Italy where he proceeded to fly 136
missions during World War II. He returned to Tuskegee, Alabama in 1944 where he took post as a twin engine instructor. By
the end the 1950, the Korean War had broken out and McGee was now flying planes out of the Philippines, where he was stationed
as a Base Operations Officer. He flew 100 low level bombing and strafing missions during the Korean War. In 1953, he graduated
from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base. A few years later McGee was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel,
causing his wife and three children to relocate with him across the United States and abroad throughout the next several years.
In 1967, when the Vietnam War broke out, McGee was once again deployed and flew 173 missions. In 1969, McGee was promoted
to the rank of Colonel and on January 31, 1973 he retired from the United States Air Force compiling nearly 30 years of service
and a record of 409 aerial fighter combat missions.
This collection contains memorandums, special orders, correspondence, administrative records, and other material pertaining
to Charles E. McGee's military service, and more generally to the Tuskegee Airmen. Includes personnel, financial, and flight
records documenting McGee's nearly thirty year career in the United States military. A photograph of McGee and his military
dress jacket are also included.
This collection is arranged into three series as follows:
- Series 1. Military documents, 1942-1973
- Series 2. Administrative records, 1968-2009
- Series 3. Photographs and artifacts, undated
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
library's online public access catalog.
United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Squadron, 99th
United States. Army Air Forces. Fighter Group, 332nd
World War, 1939-1945
Correspondence
Documents
Financial records