eg ee , ▁Alabama ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁he ▁became ▁an ▁original ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 9 th ▁F ighter ▁Squadron , ▁the ▁first ▁group ▁of ▁T usk eg ee ▁Air men ▁to ▁fight ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁and ▁the ▁for er un ner ▁of ▁the ▁ 3 3 2 nd ▁F ighter ▁Group . ▁▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁he ▁was ▁among ▁the ▁first ▁ 2 7 ▁pil ots ▁( classes ▁ 4 2 C ▁– ▁ 4 2 H ) ▁of ▁the ▁ 9 9 th ▁F ighter ▁Squadron ▁commanded ▁by ▁then ▁L t ▁Col ▁Benjamin ▁O . ▁Davis , ▁Jr ., ▁deployed ▁to ▁Cas ab lan ca . ▁ ▁On ▁June ▁ 9 , ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁a ▁flight ▁of ▁six ▁P - 4 0 s , ▁led ▁by ▁ 1 st ▁L t ▁Charles ▁D ry den , ▁he ▁participated ▁in ▁World ▁War ▁II ' s ▁first ▁aer ial ▁combat ▁eng agement ▁between ▁black ▁Americans ▁and ▁the ▁Luft wa ffe . ▁He ▁fle w ▁combat ▁miss ions ▁with ▁the ▁ 9 9 th , ▁flying ▁P - 4 0 ' s ▁from ▁North ▁Africa , ▁Sic ily ▁and ▁the ▁Italian ▁main land . ▁Return ing ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁as ▁an ▁instruct or ▁pilot ▁in ▁the ▁newly ▁formed ▁ 3 3 2 nd ▁F ighter ▁Group , ▁he ▁fle w ▁the ▁P - 3 9 , ▁P - 4 7 , ▁P - 5