SR110

A Senate Resolution honoring the life of Tuskegee Airman Malcolm Nettingham.

Whereas, Malcolm Nettingham was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and a longtime resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey; and

Whereas, Prior to the United States’ entry into World War II, Black people were denied the opportunity to assist in military air operations out of the belief they were not sophisticated enough to work with complex aircraft; and

Whereas, In 1940, after lobbying by various civil rights groups, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that the Army Air Corps would begin training Black pilots at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama; and

Whereas, Many of the trainees were college graduates who went on to serve as pilots, navigators, bombardiers, instructors, mechanics, control tower operators, and support staff; and

Whereas, The “Tuskegee Airmen” as they were called, earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 14 Bronze Stars, eight Purple Hearts, two Soldier Medals, one Silver Star, one Legion of Merit, one Red Star of Yugoslavia, three Presidential/Distinguished Unit Citations, and more than 300 Congressional Medals of Honor; and

Whereas, As a result of their brave service, the Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for the issuance of Executive Order 9881 by President Harry S. Truman which ordered the desegregation of the Armed Forces in 1948; and

Whereas, Malcolm Nettingham was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944, completed basic training, and was accepted as a candidate in the Army Air Corps Flight Radio Operator division; and

Whereas, After successfully completing his training, he became a member of a five-man crew of Black soldiers chosen as part of the first integrated flight radio communications class in the U.S. Army Air Corps; and

Whereas, Having excelled in Morse Code, Mr. Nettingham served as a radio operator and gunner in the 617th Squadron, 477th Composite Group on a B-52 Bomber; and

Whereas, Mr. Nettingham was honorably discharged in 1946, and spent 32 years working for Communications Measurements Laboratory as a Contract Administrator in the electronics industry, and after retirement, he worked as a radio station engineer for WNJR of Newark, New Jersey; and

Whereas, As a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Nettingham overcame discrimination and prejudice to become a member of one of the most highly respected group of soldiers during World War II; and

Whereas, In recognition of his service with the Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Nettingham was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007, and by invitation, was present at both inaugural ceremonies for President Barack Obama; and

Whereas, Mr. Nettingham, for more than 75 years, remained active in his community, was a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, serving as a member of the choir and as a Sunday school teacher, took great pleasure in encouraging young people in and out of church, and was always ready to serve where needed; and

Whereas, Sadly, Mr. Nettingham passed away on September 14, 2020, a few days before his 102nd birthday; and

Whereas, As we lose more members of the Greatest Generation each day, it is important to recognize the accomplishments of men like Mr. Nettingham who selflessly served our nation while overcoming racial segregation and prejudice; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House proudly honors Mr. Malcolm Nettingham for his lifetime of service to our nation and for his role in helping to bring about the desegregation of the United States Armed Forces as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of Defense, the Governor, the Adjutant General of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, each member of Congress elected from this State, the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the President of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, and to the family of Mr. Malcolm Nettingham.

STATEMENT

This Senate resolution honors the life of Mr. Malcolm Nettingham. Mr. Nettingham, a resident of Scotch Plains, New Jersey, proudly served this nation while bringing about real, long-lasting racial change. As a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Nettingham was part of an elite group of Black men who played a critical role in the Allied victory during World War II and paved the way for desegregation of the United States Armed Forces.

Mr. Nettingham was drafted into the United States Army in 1944, completed basic training, and was accepted as a candidate in the Army Air Corps Flight Radio Operator division. He later became a member of a five-man crew of Black soldiers chosen as part of the first integrated flight radio communications class in the United States Army Air Corps. He excelled in Morse Code, and served as a radio operator and gunner in the 617th Squadron, 477th Composite Group on a B-52 Bomber.

Mr. Nettingham was honorably discharged in 1946, and spent 32 years working for Communications Measurements Laboratory as a Contract Administrator in the electronics industry, and after retirement, he worked as a radio station engineer for WNJR of Newark, New Jersey. He remained active in his community and was a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, serving as a member of the choir and as a Sunday school teacher. He took great pleasure in encouraging young people in and out of church, and was always ready to serve where needed.

As a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Nettingham helped pave the way for the full integration of the United States military and in recognition of his service with the Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Nettingham was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

Mr. Nettingham passed away on September 14, 2020, a few days before his 102nd birthday. As we lose more members of the Greatest Generation each day, it is important to recognize the accomplishments of men like Mr. Nettingham who selflessly served our nation while overcoming racial segregation and prejudice. He is a symbol of triumph over adversity and loyalty to one’s country. His legacy will inspire citizens of both this State and this nation for decades to come.