The Daily Bulletin, 1944-11-15

The church is doing nothing to “instill a sense of personal and com community - munity community responsibility in the con congregations,” - gregations,” congregations,” Oxley told his audi audience. - ence. audience. “The day after a lynching,” he continued, “the best people gather round in the town and say it will never happen again. Don’t you think it’s wiser to make sure that it will never happen—at all? “But I know, after six months of experience here as a War Man Manpower - power Manpower commission member, the dif difficult - ficult difficult time we’ve had to make Amer Americans - icans Americans in the community accept the skills of the black people.”

After the capture of Florence the outfit was reorganized and Capt. Toppins joined the 332nd Fighter group and shifted from P-40’s to P-51’s. This group took up a new as assignment - signment assignment of escort flying. They were traveling much greater dis distances - tances distances in support of heavy bombers This assignment took him over Ger Germany, - many, Germany, France, Yugoslavia, Austria and Bulgaria. Their job is to give the bombers the greatest possible measure of protection.

All clubs and organizations will be contacted to take part in the drive for funds, with the office of the NAACP, but since no evidence of discrimination was found in the ac action - tion action or the decision of the court, the association is unable to official officially - ly officially participate. However, all of*the association’s leaders and many members are taking an active part as individuals, and a- citizens’ com committee - mittee committee was formed.

His cadet training started six weeks after Pearl Harbor, he said, with primary, basic and advanced courses at Tuskegee, where he won his wings and a commission as a second lieutenant on Sept. 6, 1942. He recalled that he was one of four replacements for the 99th Fighter squadron, an independent all-Negro unit, whose personnel felt that their reputation both as American and as Negroes depended on their per performance - formance performance under fire.

with a party at their home. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. John Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fant, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Boodie’, Mr. and Mrs. Lenistien Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. James Boy saw, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Thomas, Mrs. Marie Brinson, Mrs. Evelyn Harris, Mrs. Bessie Tilman, Mrs. Alberta Mur Murphy, - phy, Murphy, Miss Elsie Boston, Miss Jean Jeanette - ette Jeanette Long, and Mr. Robert Ramsey.

San Francisco and took a total of five courses in civilian pilot train training, - ing, training, securing his commercial license and instructor’s rating. The train training - ing training was tremendously useful to him after he entered the army, he ad admitted, - mitted, admitted, although it was hard for a Negro to get the courses. “Once in,” he remarked, “there was not trouble at all.”