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World War II: The Global, Human, and Ethical Dimension
Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW
This book is a rare and important gift. One of the few memoirs of combat in World War II by a distinguished African-American flier, it is also perhaps the only account of the African-American experience in a German prison camp.
Alexander Jefferson was one of 32 Tuskegee Airmen from the 332nd Fighter Group to be shot down defending a country that considered them to be second-class citizens. A Detroit native, Jefferson enlisted in 1942, trained at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, became a second lieutenant in 1943, and joined one of the most
decorated fighting units in the War, flying P51s with their legendary--and feared --"red tails."
Based in Italy, Jefferson flew bomber escort missions over southern Europe before being shot down in France in 1944. Captured, he spent the balance of the war in Luftwaffe prison camps in Sagan and Moosberg, Germany.
In this vividly detailed, deeply personal book, Jefferson writes as a genuine American hero and patriot. It's an unvarnished look at life behind barbed wire-- and what it meant to be an African-American pilot in enemy hands. It's also a look at race and democracy in America through the eyes of a patriot who fought to
protect the promise of freedom.
The book features the sketches, drawings, and other illustrations Jefferson created during his nine months as a "kriegie" (POW) and Lewis Carlson's authoritative background to the man, his unit, and the fight Alexander Jefferson fought so well.
Alexander Jefferson was one of 32 Tuskegee Airmen from the 332nd Fighter Group to be shot down defending a country that considered them to be second-class citizens. A Detroit native, Jefferson enlisted in 1942, trained at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, became a second lieutenant in 1943, and joined one of the most
decorated fighting units in the War, flying P51s with their legendary--and feared --"red tails."
Based in Italy, Jefferson flew bomber escort missions over southern Europe before being shot down in France in 1944. Captured, he spent the balance of the war in Luftwaffe prison camps in Sagan and Moosberg, Germany.
In this vividly detailed, deeply personal book, Jefferson writes as a genuine American hero and patriot. It's an unvarnished look at life behind barbed wire-- and what it meant to be an African-American pilot in enemy hands. It's also a look at race and democracy in America through the eyes of a patriot who fought to
protect the promise of freedom.
The book features the sketches, drawings, and other illustrations Jefferson created during his nine months as a "kriegie" (POW) and Lewis Carlson's authoritative background to the man, his unit, and the fight Alexander Jefferson fought so well.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 11, 2023
Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free is the wartime memoir of Alexander Jefferson (1921-2022) who, during World War II, had served as a fighter pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF). Jefferson was among those elite group of airmen as known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Jefferson shares with the reader his experiences of growing up in Detroit (where he graduated from high school in 1938) and his subsequent life in Atlanta, where he earned an undergraduate degree in 1942 from Clark College in Chemistry and Biology, with a minor in Physics and Mathematics. Then prior to pursuing graduate study at Howard University in Washington DC, Jefferson had enlisted in the USAAF, intent on becoming a pilot in spite of the odds placed against him. The USAAF had only reluctantly allowed African American men the previous year in its flight training program. The prevailing sentiment in the USAAF (which mirrored the attitudes in the U.S. armed forces toward African Americans) was that "Negroes" (as African Americans were referred to at that time) did not possess the necessary intelligence and aptitude to become competent aviators, much less successful combat pilots. Well, as Jefferson makes clear in his memoir, he overcame many obstacles placed in his path throughout the various phases of training, earned his wings upon graduating with Class 44-A in January 1944 at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and after advanced training in fighters at Selfridge Army Air Field outside of Detroit, was sent overseas to Italy where he was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group in June 1944.
At the time of Jefferson's arrival, the 332nd was transitioning from flying the P-47 Thunderbolt to one of the best fighter planes to see combat in World War II, the P-51 Mustang. The P-51 was the first USAAF fighter that had the range to escort the bombers to their targets deep inside Germany and back home, as well as the ability to take on the Luftwaffe on better than equal terms.
Jefferson would fly 18 combat missions (which entailed bomber escort, ground attack, and fighter sweep missions) before being shot down by flak on his 19th mission over Toulon, France on August 12, 1944, while attacking a German radar unit along the coast. He would be a POW in Germany until he (along with his fellow POWs) was liberated on April 29, 1945.
Jefferson also sheds light on his postwar life which involved serving as both a teacher and later assistant principal in the Detroit Public Schools System from 1948 to 1979, and his work as a founding member of the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen in encouraging and supporting African American youth interested in careers in aviation and aerospace.
What I found sobering about reading Jefferson's memoir was how restrictive the USAAF was in terms of the numbers of African Americans it allowed to become fighter pilots during World War II. He cited how it was that just a few days prior to graduating from advanced flight training in January 1944, four of his classmates who were expecting to earn their wings, were pulled out of the flight training program by the USAAF and informed that they were not going to graduate. According to Jefferson, "[s]ome of them had even purchased their uniforms and invited their parents and sweethearts to come to graduation. It was a loss of their manhood, and it caused them a lot of psychological stress; in fact, some of them are still psychologically wounded because they were washed out. I know some of these guys could fly better than I could, and they were certainly better soldiers."
This is a fantastic book which also contains some of Jefferson's own art work (most of which was done during his time as a POW) and photos of Jefferson, his family, and fellow Tuskegee airmen.
Jefferson shares with the reader his experiences of growing up in Detroit (where he graduated from high school in 1938) and his subsequent life in Atlanta, where he earned an undergraduate degree in 1942 from Clark College in Chemistry and Biology, with a minor in Physics and Mathematics. Then prior to pursuing graduate study at Howard University in Washington DC, Jefferson had enlisted in the USAAF, intent on becoming a pilot in spite of the odds placed against him. The USAAF had only reluctantly allowed African American men the previous year in its flight training program. The prevailing sentiment in the USAAF (which mirrored the attitudes in the U.S. armed forces toward African Americans) was that "Negroes" (as African Americans were referred to at that time) did not possess the necessary intelligence and aptitude to become competent aviators, much less successful combat pilots. Well, as Jefferson makes clear in his memoir, he overcame many obstacles placed in his path throughout the various phases of training, earned his wings upon graduating with Class 44-A in January 1944 at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and after advanced training in fighters at Selfridge Army Air Field outside of Detroit, was sent overseas to Italy where he was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group in June 1944.
At the time of Jefferson's arrival, the 332nd was transitioning from flying the P-47 Thunderbolt to one of the best fighter planes to see combat in World War II, the P-51 Mustang. The P-51 was the first USAAF fighter that had the range to escort the bombers to their targets deep inside Germany and back home, as well as the ability to take on the Luftwaffe on better than equal terms.
Jefferson would fly 18 combat missions (which entailed bomber escort, ground attack, and fighter sweep missions) before being shot down by flak on his 19th mission over Toulon, France on August 12, 1944, while attacking a German radar unit along the coast. He would be a POW in Germany until he (along with his fellow POWs) was liberated on April 29, 1945.
Jefferson also sheds light on his postwar life which involved serving as both a teacher and later assistant principal in the Detroit Public Schools System from 1948 to 1979, and his work as a founding member of the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen in encouraging and supporting African American youth interested in careers in aviation and aerospace.
What I found sobering about reading Jefferson's memoir was how restrictive the USAAF was in terms of the numbers of African Americans it allowed to become fighter pilots during World War II. He cited how it was that just a few days prior to graduating from advanced flight training in January 1944, four of his classmates who were expecting to earn their wings, were pulled out of the flight training program by the USAAF and informed that they were not going to graduate. According to Jefferson, "[s]ome of them had even purchased their uniforms and invited their parents and sweethearts to come to graduation. It was a loss of their manhood, and it caused them a lot of psychological stress; in fact, some of them are still psychologically wounded because they were washed out. I know some of these guys could fly better than I could, and they were certainly better soldiers."
This is a fantastic book which also contains some of Jefferson's own art work (most of which was done during his time as a POW) and photos of Jefferson, his family, and fellow Tuskegee airmen.
January 31, 2024
If memories make a person rich, then Lt. Col. Jefferson is wealthy, indeed. Jefferson reveals much growing up as an African-American in a Polish neighborhood in Detroit. The rich detail about family and military life only enhances the reader's understanding of who Jefferson is and how determining strong character can be. He is a lucky man in both peacetime and war, yes, but this reader was convinced he merited his luck. His fully experienced life was a gift not only to him, but to all lucky enough to know him (including his readers). You'll learn much about life in 1930s urban America and, in World War II what it means to love one's country enough to take real risks and make real sacrifices on its behalf.
March 1, 2016
Shot down and captured by the Nazis the author, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, said: "I was treated better as a POW than I was back home."
An excellent, short autobiography for anyone interested in U.S. history. He describes his experiences throughout his life with an emphasis on his nine months as a "Kriegie" (Prisoner of War.)
After Patton's troops freed him, Lt. Jefferson returned to New York. "Going down the gangplank, a short, smug, white buck private shouted, 'Whites to the right, niggers to the left.'"
An excellent, short autobiography for anyone interested in U.S. history. He describes his experiences throughout his life with an emphasis on his nine months as a "Kriegie" (Prisoner of War.)
After Patton's troops freed him, Lt. Jefferson returned to New York. "Going down the gangplank, a short, smug, white buck private shouted, 'Whites to the right, niggers to the left.'"
May 28, 2014
Written in almost a conversational style, this is the history of Mr. Jefferson. From his childhood, through his college years, into the military, and into a POW camp, this fast moving book chronicles his experiences both good and bad with other soldiers, Germans, and civilians after the war. We also have the added bonus of drawings that he made during that time. The ones of the barracks where the prisoners were kept were especially detailed.
September 28, 2020
First, I want to say that Alexander Jefferson is an amazing person! WOW! I am so grateful for the opportunity to read his story and learn about all he has accomplished. WWII has always been one of my favorite topics in history so reading a first hand account of a Tuskegee Airman and POW was very intriguing to me.
The hardest part of this book for me to understand was all the technical military and airplane language, but I still enjoyed it and learned so much.
The hardest part of this book for me to understand was all the technical military and airplane language, but I still enjoyed it and learned so much.
January 26, 2023
I had to give this author 5 stars, as I want people to read this amazing book! It should be required reading in college. Young people are certainly missing out on American History these days and it has to be preserved!
I liked the cartoon-style drawings in the book. From what I've read in other books, Alexander Jefferson was extremely blessed to fly so late in the war so that Germans thought twice about killing more of their prisoners, since they were so close to defeat and being judged by other nations. I found his experiences with prejudice a sad comment on American's behavior toward African Americans. It must have been lonely going through college and the service to be treated so unkindly. It sounds as if his brilliant mind and many interests and being raised in a good and faithful family helped him get through those rough times. His students in later years were certainly blessed to have him, as well as everyone else in his life. Wish I could have met him! Read the book and you won't be disappointed!!
I liked the cartoon-style drawings in the book. From what I've read in other books, Alexander Jefferson was extremely blessed to fly so late in the war so that Germans thought twice about killing more of their prisoners, since they were so close to defeat and being judged by other nations. I found his experiences with prejudice a sad comment on American's behavior toward African Americans. It must have been lonely going through college and the service to be treated so unkindly. It sounds as if his brilliant mind and many interests and being raised in a good and faithful family helped him get through those rough times. His students in later years were certainly blessed to have him, as well as everyone else in his life. Wish I could have met him! Read the book and you won't be disappointed!!
May 16, 2025
We are on a road trip and I brought this book along to read aloud since we were going to visit the Tuskegee Air Museum in Tuskegee AL. Jefferson Alexander autographed this copy for me when he spoke at the community college I taught at. It was a powerful story of service and survival in the face of prejudice and racism. I heard Mr Alexander speak twice and still feel it was a great privilege. This is such a well-written memoir of his life, training, war time experiences, and post war years. What a treasure this man was.
February 8, 2023
This is an outstanding book, an autobiography of a Tuskegee airmen. Jefferson led and interesting life. The fact that he was also a skilled artist is a great bonus. His account of his time in a Nazi prison camp alone is a great reason to read this book. He and his fellow Tuskegee pilots were heroes and it's a shame it has taken this country so long to recognize it.
May 5, 2025
Great read. Written in a very easy and relaxed style which is impressive given the subject matter. A few factual errors / typos but nothing too distracting. Absolutely gold mine of information is revealed by the inclusion of the author’s sketches made as a POW. I am glad I’ve read this important story.
June 12, 2019
A WWII very good read!
May 2, 2015
This book is a quick but enjoyable read. Alexander Jefferson grew up in Detroit. He was a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. This fighter group was renowned for never losing one of the bombers they escorted to enemy fighters. He was shot down during a strafing run on a German radar facility in August 1944, just before the invasion of southern France. He was a prisoner of war in two different prison camps for the rest of the war.
If Alex Jefferson shot down any enemy planes, he didn't mention it in this memoir. What's notable about this book is how he details his struggles against segregation both in the civilian world and in the military and also his numerous sketches, many of which depict life in the prison camp. His depictions of life in Detroit before and during the war are also very interesting. He knew how to have a good time. After he was shot down, he was interrogated by a German officer who went to the University of Michigan before the war and spent many hours in the same clubs in the Black Bottom section of Detroit as Alex.
After the war, Alex Jefferson became an educator in the Detroit Public Schools. He retired as a Vice Principal. He's also in the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame.
If Alex Jefferson shot down any enemy planes, he didn't mention it in this memoir. What's notable about this book is how he details his struggles against segregation both in the civilian world and in the military and also his numerous sketches, many of which depict life in the prison camp. His depictions of life in Detroit before and during the war are also very interesting. He knew how to have a good time. After he was shot down, he was interrogated by a German officer who went to the University of Michigan before the war and spent many hours in the same clubs in the Black Bottom section of Detroit as Alex.
After the war, Alex Jefferson became an educator in the Detroit Public Schools. He retired as a Vice Principal. He's also in the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame.
April 11, 2013
really neat memoir and quite easy to read
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews