Airmen say last farewell to a Tuskegee Airman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Jimenez
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  Airmen from Team McChord paid their final respects to a Tuskegee Airman at a memorial service Aug. 28 in Lakewood.

The service was held in memory of retired Lt. Col. Edward Drummond.

Drummond passed away Aug. 3, at 88 years of age after many years of devotion and contributions to the Tuskegee Airmen and Air Force heritage.

One of the last original Tuskegee Airmen, Drummond was part of the last class of African American pilots to train at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, during World War II.

Tuskegee Army Air Field was the first Army air field to train African American Airmen to fly during segregation. Established in 1941, Tuskegee was the only school for instruction of African American pilots. Its graduates, along with the other air and ground personnel trained there for the 477th Bombardment and 332nd Fighter Groups, are known today as Tuskegee Airmen.

In 1942, Drummond was drafted into the Army and was later accepted into the aviation cadet training program at Tuskegee, where he learned to fly.

During his time in service, Drummond flew the B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Thunderbolt, F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, F-86D Sabre, and F-106 Delta Dart aircraft. He completed tours of duty in Japan, Korea, England, France, Vietnam and Germany.

Completing more than 104 missions, Drummond was one of the first two African American pilots in the Air Force to fly jets into combat during the Korean War.

While in the Air Force, Drummond was no stranger to McChord Field. He was first assigned to McChord in 1961 to the 325th Fighter Wing as an operations and plans officer. His second assignment to McChord was in 1964 to the 25th Air Division as a plans officer.

Drummond retired from the Air Force in 1970 with more than 5,700 flying hours and having achieved the status of a command pilot.

During Drummond's time in service, he earned numerous service awards which included the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Korean Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. Drummond was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in March of 2007.

Following his retirement, Drummond became an active member in the Sam Bruce Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen in Washington, where he spoke at numerous schools and events. He raised awareness of their contributions to the U.S. and efforts in combating segregation by telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Team McChord Airmen say farewell to Drummond while celebrating his Air Force heritage as they commemorate the Air Force's 67th birthday this September.