Daniel James, Jr.

Daniel James, Jr.
U.S Air Force Photo
Nickname(s)	"Chappie"
Born	(1920-02-11)February 11, 1920 Pensacola, Florida, United States
Died	February 25, 1978(1978-02-25) (aged 58) Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1943–1978
Rank	General
Commands held	437th FIS 60th FIS 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron 7272nd Fighter Training Wing NORAD/ADCOM
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross

Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. (February 11, 1920 – February 25, 1978) was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, who in 1975 became the first African American to reach the rank of four-star general. He is the third person of Sub-Saharan origin to become highest-ranking officer in the Western world after Thomas-Alexandre Dumas (1793) and Toussaint Louverture (1797).

James graduated from the Tuskegee University in 1942 where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. He continued civilian pilot training under the government-sponsored Civilian Pilot Training Program. He remained at Tuskegee as a civilian instructor pilot in the Army Air Corps later that July. Throughout the remainder of the war James trained pilots for the all-black 99th Pursuit Squadron. He did not see combat himself until the Korean War.

In September 1949, James went to the Philippines as flight leader for the 12th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter Wing at Clark Field. In July 1950 he left for Korea, where he flew 101 combat missions in P-51 Mustang and F-80 aircraft.