Maurice Dale Pompey, Sr., Judge, Tuskegee Airman

Source: http://www.everworld.com/tuskegee/officer2.htm

Maurice Pompey was born May 14, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana & presently resides in Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Josephine Pompey. They have two children: a son, Maurice Pompey jr. & a daughter, Tina Pompey.

He was a student at Howard University, Washington D.C. when World War II began. In mid 1942 he secured & filed his application for pilot training. He passed the requisite examinations, waited for his paperwork to filter through the maze of bureaucratic channels that existed, and in February 1943 was inducted into the Army Air Corps. In July 1943, he was assigned to Tuskegee Army Air Field as an Aviation Cadet. In August 1944, upon completion of his training, he received his pilot's wings and Commission as a Flight Officer.

After completing B-25 transition train at Douglas Army Field, Arizona, he was assigned to the 618th Squadron of the 477th Medium Bombardment Group based at Atterbury Army Air Field, Columbus, Indiana for combat training. In January 1945 the 477th Group was designated combat ready with a projected activation date of July 1945 for service in Okinawa. In March 1945, a dispute termed "The Freeman Field Mutiny" occurred in challenge to the authority of the white Post Commander, Col. Selway, to exclude four hundred African-American pilots and officers assigned to the 477th Group from using the Officer's Club at Freeman Field. This dispute and the resulting arrests caused the 477th Group to the reassigned to Godman Field, Kentucky. As part of the reassignment, Col. Selway was relieved of command and replaced by Col. B. O. Davis Jr.. The two hundred whit pilots and officers of the 477th Group were also replaced by capable African-American pilots already assigned to the 477th Group.

Pompey's 618th B-25 Squadron become part of the 477th Composite Group which included the 617th B-25 Squadron and a P-47 pursuit Squadron. On June 24, 1945, the 477th Composite Group was designated combat ready with a projected activation date of August 31, 1945 for service in Okinawa, however, World War II ended on August 14, 1945.

On October 9, 1945, at his request, 1st Lt. Maurice Pompey was released from active duty, placed in the Air Corps Reserves and returned to civilian life to resume and complete his education and pursue a career in Law: Roosevelt University, Chicago, Il 1947.

DePaul University Law School, L.L.B., J.D. 1948-51 Magistrate Circuit Court of Cook County, Il 1964-70 Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Il 1970-83 Board Member/Chairman Arizona D.E.S. Appeals Board 1987-92