Ex-Tuskegee Airman Alfred Thomas Farrar dies at age 99
Former Tuskegee Airman Alfred Thomas Farrar died on Thursday in Virginia only days before a ceremony planned to honor his service in the program that famously trained Black military pilots during World War II
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Alfred Thomas Farrar, a former Tuskegee Airman, died on Thursday in Virginia only days before a ceremony planned to honor his service in the program that famously trained Black military pilots during World War II. He was 99.
Farrar's son, Roy, told The Associated Press on Sunday that his father died at his Lynchburg home. Alfred Farrar would have turned 100 years old on Dec. 26.
Farrar left his Lynchburg hometown for Tuskegee, Alabama, after graduating from high school to began his aviation training in 1941.
“It was the next best thing to do,” Farrar had told The News & Advance in a story that ran last week.
Farrar learned to be a pilot during his time in U.S. Army Air Corps program but didn't fly any combat missions overseas, according to his son.
Roy Farrar said he was proud of his father's service but doesn't remember him having much to say about his time as a Tuskegee Airman.
“It was just something that he did at the time, that was needed at the time,” Roy Farrar said.
After his discharge in 1943, Alfred Farrar studied to be an aerospace engineer and worked as an engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration for four decades.
WFXR-TV reports that the Lynchburg Area Veterans Council plans to honor Farrar and his service during the council's “troop rally” on Christmas Day.
“In spite of tremendous discrimination, these young American men and women served their nation with distinction and opened the door of opportunity for many other Americans,” the council said in a statement.
Roy Farrar said several planes are expected to fly over a separate memorial ceremony for his father on his birthday this week.