Mitchell Higginbotham, a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the African American pilots who graduated from Tuskegee Institute and flew as fighters and served in bomber squadrons during World War II, has died.
Higginbotham, a resident of Rancho Mirage, passed away on Sunday at the age of 94.
He received his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force on Feb. 1, 1945, after completing training at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield as a member of class 44-K-TE.
He was assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group (medium) based at Freeman Field, Indiana, and was trained to fly both single and multi-engine military aircraft. While in training, he was cited for his skills as a B-25 medium bomber pilot.
According to historical accounts, Higginbotham was one of 100 black servicemen who were arrested for attempting to enter an officer's club reserved for white officers. The event became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny. It is widely seen as a key moment in the path towards full integration of the U.S. Armed Services.
In 2007, Higginbotham and his brother, Dr. Robert Higginbotham, also a member of the elite Tuskegee club -- along with about 300 other Tuskegee Airmen -- were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush.
Higginbotham was born on March 2, 1921, in Amherst, Virginia. He began active duty in the U.S. military during the summer of 1942.
He remained on active duty in the military until 1946 and was a reserve from 1946 to 1962.
After the war, Mitchell went on to earn a Master's Degree in Labor Relations from the University of Colorado. He then joined the staff of the Urban League of Pittsburgh. Mitchell was later hired by the Greater Pittsburgh Airport where he managed landings and take offs of all unscheduled aircraft. Mitchell relocated to Los Angeles where he served as a Los Angeles County Probation Officer until retiring.
In 1996, he was honored as "Man of the Year" by the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
He moved to Rancho Mirage two years ago to be closer to his brother Robert and sister-in-law, Margaret. A longtime resident of Dana Point, he was active in many organizations, including the National Tuskegee Airmen, Los Angeles Chapter of The Tuskegee Airmen, Dana Point Historical Society and the Tolerance Education Center of Rancho Mirage.
"Mitch was a true patriot, who against tremendous adversity and prejudice would not wavier from his allegiance to the United States and his goal to be an aviator," Palm Springs Air Museum managing director Fred Bell said. "His life and dedication should serve as an example of what one should do for their fellow men and our nation. It is one thing to espouse patriotism. It is a very different thing to strive with your all your body and soul will give – and Mitch did just that. We are lucky that these type of men stepped up to the plate during a very dark time and I am truly blessed to have known him."
"He spent the last two years of his life working on his oral history, educating local schoolchildren about the great Tuskegee Airmen and, most importantly, working as a consultant on the film 'Red Tails,' " said Higginbotham's oral historian, Shivaun Manley Hinman. "He worked for peace and had a great affection for young people everywhere."
Higginbotham, a resident of Rancho Mirage, passed away on Sunday at the age of 94.
He received his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force on Feb. 1, 1945, after completing training at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield as a member of class 44-K-TE.
He was assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group (medium) based at Freeman Field, Indiana, and was trained to fly both single and multi-engine military aircraft. While in training, he was cited for his skills as a B-25 medium bomber pilot.
According to historical accounts, Higginbotham was one of 100 black servicemen who were arrested for attempting to enter an officer's club reserved for white officers. The event became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny. It is widely seen as a key moment in the path towards full integration of the U.S. Armed Services.
In 2007, Higginbotham and his brother, Dr. Robert Higginbotham, also a member of the elite Tuskegee club -- along with about 300 other Tuskegee Airmen -- were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush.
Higginbotham was born on March 2, 1921, in Amherst, Virginia. He began active duty in the U.S. military during the summer of 1942.
He remained on active duty in the military until 1946 and was a reserve from 1946 to 1962.
After the war, Mitchell went on to earn a Master's Degree in Labor Relations from the University of Colorado. He then joined the staff of the Urban League of Pittsburgh. Mitchell was later hired by the Greater Pittsburgh Airport where he managed landings and take offs of all unscheduled aircraft. Mitchell relocated to Los Angeles where he served as a Los Angeles County Probation Officer until retiring.
In 1996, he was honored as "Man of the Year" by the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
He moved to Rancho Mirage two years ago to be closer to his brother Robert and sister-in-law, Margaret. A longtime resident of Dana Point, he was active in many organizations, including the National Tuskegee Airmen, Los Angeles Chapter of The Tuskegee Airmen, Dana Point Historical Society and the Tolerance Education Center of Rancho Mirage.
"Mitch was a true patriot, who against tremendous adversity and prejudice would not wavier from his allegiance to the United States and his goal to be an aviator," Palm Springs Air Museum managing director Fred Bell said. "His life and dedication should serve as an example of what one should do for their fellow men and our nation. It is one thing to espouse patriotism. It is a very different thing to strive with your all your body and soul will give – and Mitch did just that. We are lucky that these type of men stepped up to the plate during a very dark time and I am truly blessed to have known him."
"He spent the last two years of his life working on his oral history, educating local schoolchildren about the great Tuskegee Airmen and, most importantly, working as a consultant on the film 'Red Tails,' " said Higginbotham's oral historian, Shivaun Manley Hinman. "He worked for peace and had a great affection for young people everywhere."
Mitchell Higginbotham, a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the African American pilots who graduated from Tuskegee Institute and flew as fighters and served in bomber squadrons during World War II, has died.
Higginbotham, a resident of Rancho Mirage, passed away on Sunday at the age of 94.
He received his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force on Feb. 1, 1945, after completing training at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield as a member of class 44-K-TE.
He was assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group (medium) based at Freeman Field, Indiana, and was trained to fly both single and multi-engine military aircraft. While in training, he was cited for his skills as a B-25 medium bomber pilot.
According to historical accounts, Higginbotham was one of 100 black servicemen who were arrested for attempting to enter an officer's club reserved for white officers. The event became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny. It is widely seen as a key moment in the path towards full integration of the U.S. Armed Services.
In 2007, Higginbotham and his brother, Dr. Robert Higginbotham, also a member of the elite Tuskegee club -- along with about 300 other Tuskegee Airmen -- were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush.
Higginbotham was born on March 2, 1921, in Amherst, Virginia. He began active duty in the U.S. military during the summer of 1942.
He remained on active duty in the military until 1946 and was a reserve from 1946 to 1962.
After the war, Mitchell went on to earn a Master's Degree in Labor Relations from the University of Colorado. He then joined the staff of the Urban League of Pittsburgh. Mitchell was later hired by the Greater Pittsburgh Airport where he managed landings and take offs of all unscheduled aircraft. Mitchell relocated to Los Angeles where he served as a Los Angeles County Probation Officer until retiring.
In 1996, he was honored as "Man of the Year" by the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
He moved to Rancho Mirage two years ago to be closer to his brother Robert and sister-in-law, Margaret. A longtime resident of Dana Point, he was active in many organizations, including the National Tuskegee Airmen, Los Angeles Chapter of The Tuskegee Airmen, Dana Point Historical Society and the Tolerance Education Center of Rancho Mirage.
"Mitch was a true patriot, who against tremendous adversity and prejudice would not wavier from his allegiance to the United States and his goal to be an aviator," Palm Springs Air Museum managing director Fred Bell said. "His life and dedication should serve as an example of what one should do for their fellow men and our nation. It is one thing to espouse patriotism. It is a very different thing to strive with your all your body and soul will give – and Mitch did just that. We are lucky that these type of men stepped up to the plate during a very dark time and I am truly blessed to have known him."
"He spent the last two years of his life working on his oral history, educating local schoolchildren about the great Tuskegee Airmen and, most importantly, working as a consultant on the film 'Red Tails,' " said Higginbotham's oral historian, Shivaun Manley Hinman. "He worked for peace and had a great affection for young people everywhere."
Higginbotham, a resident of Rancho Mirage, passed away on Sunday at the age of 94.
He received his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force on Feb. 1, 1945, after completing training at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield as a member of class 44-K-TE.
He was assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group (medium) based at Freeman Field, Indiana, and was trained to fly both single and multi-engine military aircraft. While in training, he was cited for his skills as a B-25 medium bomber pilot.
According to historical accounts, Higginbotham was one of 100 black servicemen who were arrested for attempting to enter an officer's club reserved for white officers. The event became known as the Freeman Field Mutiny. It is widely seen as a key moment in the path towards full integration of the U.S. Armed Services.
In 2007, Higginbotham and his brother, Dr. Robert Higginbotham, also a member of the elite Tuskegee club -- along with about 300 other Tuskegee Airmen -- were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President George W. Bush.
Higginbotham was born on March 2, 1921, in Amherst, Virginia. He began active duty in the U.S. military during the summer of 1942.
He remained on active duty in the military until 1946 and was a reserve from 1946 to 1962.
After the war, Mitchell went on to earn a Master's Degree in Labor Relations from the University of Colorado. He then joined the staff of the Urban League of Pittsburgh. Mitchell was later hired by the Greater Pittsburgh Airport where he managed landings and take offs of all unscheduled aircraft. Mitchell relocated to Los Angeles where he served as a Los Angeles County Probation Officer until retiring.
In 1996, he was honored as "Man of the Year" by the Los Angeles Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
He moved to Rancho Mirage two years ago to be closer to his brother Robert and sister-in-law, Margaret. A longtime resident of Dana Point, he was active in many organizations, including the National Tuskegee Airmen, Los Angeles Chapter of The Tuskegee Airmen, Dana Point Historical Society and the Tolerance Education Center of Rancho Mirage.
"Mitch was a true patriot, who against tremendous adversity and prejudice would not wavier from his allegiance to the United States and his goal to be an aviator," Palm Springs Air Museum managing director Fred Bell said. "His life and dedication should serve as an example of what one should do for their fellow men and our nation. It is one thing to espouse patriotism. It is a very different thing to strive with your all your body and soul will give – and Mitch did just that. We are lucky that these type of men stepped up to the plate during a very dark time and I am truly blessed to have known him."
"He spent the last two years of his life working on his oral history, educating local schoolchildren about the great Tuskegee Airmen and, most importantly, working as a consultant on the film 'Red Tails,' " said Higginbotham's oral historian, Shivaun Manley Hinman. "He worked for peace and had a great affection for young people everywhere."
Inscription
Mitchell L. Higginbotham
2nd Lt
USAAF
World War II
Mar 2 1921
Feb 14 2016
Brother
Uncle
Friend
Family Members
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