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Edward L. Toppins

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Edward Toppins
Born
Edward Lucien Toppins

June 12, 1915
Mississippi, US
DiedDecember 10, 1946(1946-12-10) (aged 31)
Lockbourne, Ohio, US
Cause of deathB-25 Bomber Crash
Resting placeGolden Gate National Cemetery
Alma materLos Angeles Junior College, University of San Francisco
Occupations
  • Military officer
  • fighter pilot
Years active1942-1946

Edward Lucien Toppins (June 12, 1915 – December 10, 1946) was a U.S. Army Air Force officer, commanding officer of the 602nd Air Engineering Squadron, and a celebrated African-American World War II fighter pilot within the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” ("Black Birdmen") among enemy German pilots.[1][2] He was one of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.[3]

Toppins is considered one of the best pilots to have emerged from the Tuskegee program. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 5 clusters, a Victory Medal, an Eastern Theater Offensive Ribbon with 7 battle stars, and an American Defense recognition.[4][5] Known among by his peers as a "pilot's pilot" and "almost a daredevil," Toppins completed 141 missions, destroying four enemy aircraft with one probable.[5] Toppins, "Buddy" Lee Archer, and Joseph Elsberry each destroyed four enemy aircraft during World War II aerial missions in Europe.[6] None of these Tuskegee Airmen were officially credited with the coveted fifth “kill” which would place a fighter pilot in the “ace” category.[7][8] [9][10][11][12][excessive citations]

Early life, education, family

Toppins was born in Mississippi on June 12, 1915, to Martha E. Toppins Davis, a dressmaker. He was the only brother of three sisters: Henrietta Toppins Whitby, Delphine, and Naomi. After living in Louisiana in the 1930s, Toppins moved with his mother and sisters to Los Angeles, California where Martha worked as a maid to a wealthy family.[13][14]

After graduating from Los Angeles Junior College, Toppins enrolled at the University of San Francisco while also working as a Greyhound Bus Company porter.[2] At the University of San Francisco, Toppins took five courses in civilian pilot training, and obtained both his commercial pilot’s license and instructor’s rating. Though it was difficult for an African American to get into the course, Toppins considered his pre-war pilot’s training a feather in his cap. "Once in," he remarked, "there was not trouble at all."[14]

After World War II, Toppins married Lucille, the widow of fellow Tuskegee Airman Sidney Brooks. Toppins died in an aircraft crash in Ohio six months after marrying Lucille.

Military career

Interested in a career as a pilot, he joined the military on October 16, 1940. He applied and was admitted into the Tuskegee Army Air Field Training Program. Despite incurring injuries during a training crash, Toppins recovered and, on September 6, 1942. he graduated as a member of the Tuskegee Army Air Field Training Program's Class 42-H.[2]

A P-51B/C marked at Toppin's Topper III, August 1944

Toppins was considered one of the best pilots to have completed the Tuskegee program.[4][5] Known among by his peers as a "pilot's pilot" and "almost a daredevil," Toppins completed 141 missions, shooting down four enemy aircraft with one probable victory.

Toppins was one of three Tuskegee Airmen who came close to earning the US Military's designation of fighter ace.[15][16] His tours included Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy, Bulgaria, Southern France, Austria, Greece, Poland, and Yugoslavia.

Toppins and fellow Red Tail Leonard M. Jackson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions on June 4, 1944, pursuant to a Fifteenth Air Force General Order 4041 -dated October 19, 1944, and a Fifteenth Air Force General Order 4876 - dated 5 Dec 5, 1944. [17]

On July 26, 1944, Toppins, now a Captain, destroyed an enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 aircraft while his squadron escorted the 47th Bombardment Wing on a bombing mission against the Markersdorf airdrome in Austria. This event marked Toppins' fourth kill, giving him more kills than any other Red Tail pilot at that time.[6]

After returning from the United States from Europe, Toppins became the commanding officer of the 602nd Air Engineering Squadron or the 580th Air Services Group at Ohio's Lockbourne Army Air Base.[2]

Overall, Toppins was one of only nine 332nd Fighter Group pilots with at least three confirmed kills during World War II.

Death in B-25 bomber crash

During a routine instrument training exercise on December 10, 1946, Toppins piloted a North American B-25 Mitchell bomber with co-pilot Captain Chase Brenzier, Jr., Lt. Ralph Berkes, and Staff Sergeant John Smith. Mid-flight, the bomber crashed and exploded over 25 acres of land near Lockbourne Army Air Base, killing all four men.[13]

Toppins is interred in Section G Site 2191-B at the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California.

Awards

Legacy

  • Toppins' letters, awards and journals sit in the California African American Museum’s special collection.[2]
  • Likely in response to Toppins' death in 1946, Toppins' widow, Lucille, was made an honorary member of the Lockbourne Officers' Wives Club. [18]
  • "Captain Edward Toppins Ct" in the predominantly African American town of Fort Washington, Maryland in Prince Georges County is named for Toppins.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ PUBLIC LAW 109–213—APR. 11, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN". https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ213/PLAW-109publ213.pdf
  2. ^ a b c d e "Edward Lucien Toppins". CAF Rise Above. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Roster". CAF Rise Above. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Tuskegee Airman: Toppins Edward L (Captain)". Ciel De Gloire.
  5. ^ a b c "P-51B/C (serial unknown) TOPPER III of Captain Edward Toppins, 99th FS, Ramitelli, Italy, August 1944". 22nd Air Force. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Tuskegee Airmen". Aces of WW2. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  7. ^ Black Past. "BLACK HISTORY MONTH, 2014: THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ON BLACKPAST.ORG." https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/tuskegee-airmen-blackpast-org/
  8. ^ “TUSKEGEE EXPERIENCE”. Theopolis W. Johnson. https://www.tuskegee.edu/Content/Uploads/Tuskegee/files/TuskegeeExperience(1).pdf
  9. ^ Francis, Charles E. The Tuskegee Airmen. Boston: Bruce Humpries, Inc., 1955. pp. 92, 194.
  10. ^ "Tuskegee Airmen Ace of World War II, Dies." CBS News, January 29, 2010. Retrieved: December 25, 2012.
  11. ^ The History Channel. "Dogfights: The First Tuskegee Ace of WWII.". Feb 17, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr7nzvwm2Z4
  12. ^ Stardust Studios. “Red Tails.” https://www.starduststudios.com/tuskegee-airmen-332nd-fighter-group.html
  13. ^ a b CAF Rise Above. "Captain Edward Toppins Registration Card And Internment Documents." Editor: Nicky Tenuto. https://cafriseabove.org/artifact/captain-edward-toppins/
  14. ^ a b E.F. Joseph (15 November 1944). "Capt Topins, 99th Hero, Returns From Italian Front". The Daily Bulletin.
  15. ^ Haulman, Daniel, The Legend of the African American Ace (PDF), Air Force Historical Research Agency
  16. ^ The American Fighter Aces Association. "The American Fighter Ace". https://www.americanfighteraces.org/the-aces/
  17. ^ AIR FORCE HISTORICAL RESEARCH AGENCY. "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN CHRONOLOGY." DANIEL L. HAULMAN. 24 November 2015. Page 65. http://www.spiritof45.org/TUSKEGEE%20AIRMEN%20CHRONOLOGY.pdf
  18. ^ "Mrs. Lucille Toppins, wife of the late Captain Edward Toppins, has been made an honorary member of the O.W.L. Club by unanimous vote in the January club meeting. Mrs. Toppins will make her home here in Columbus while attending Ohio State University." LOCKBOURNE OFFICERS' WIVES CLUB, UNDATED. https://transcription.si.edu/view/15993/NASM-NASM.1992.0023-M0000066-00780
  19. ^ "6902 Captain Edward Toppins Ct, Fort Washington, MD 20744 - MLS MDPG554606 - Coldwell Banker". ColdwellBankerHomes.com.
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