Alfonza W Davis (1919 - 1944)

Born 20 Aug 1919 in Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, United States

Husband of Berdyne (Anderson) Scott — married 7 Jul 1943 in District of Columbia, United States

Died 29 Oct 1944 at age 25 in Italy

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Biography

Capt Alfonza Davis was Missing in Action during World War II.

Alfonza Davis is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 99th Fighter Squadron 1943-1944
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Alfonza Davis was awarded the Purple Heart.

Alfonza Davis is Notable.

Alfonza was born in 1919 in Pensacola, Florida, to John Davis and Alice Sancho.^[1] His WWII draft card lists his birthdate as 20 Aug 1919. His father was a smelter by profession. In August of 1920, his mother died from health complications, leaving his father with two small boys to care for. ^[2].

His father moved to Omaha, Nebraska with his boys, and in 1924, he married Josephine Moore. ^[3] and the family set up residence in a household owned by his father. ^[4].

In 1937, Alfonza graduated as Valedictorian from Omaha Technical High School and won the 1st Annual Scholarship awarded by Alpha Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi National Negro College Fraternity. He lived at home while he continued his education^[5], and in 1941, he graduated from Creighton College earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. ^[6]. He received the call to arms on March 18, 1941, and served in the 9th Calvary at Ft. Riley, Kansas until July 5, 1942 when he was appointed an Aviation Cadet at Tuskegee, Alabama. He was the first military aviator from Omaha to receive his wings from Tuskegee. Added to his fame was the fact that he graduated at the top of his flight class and received a medal for the highest rating in Moving Target Marksmanship. He was chosen as the most outstanding cadet of his class, graduating with honors on Mar 25, 1943. ^[7] He was assigned to the 302nd Fighter Squadron.

In July of that same year, he married Berdyne Anderson in Washington DC. ^[8]. He joined the squadron in Italy where he worked himself up to flight leader. In June of 1944, he was appointed operations officer of the squadron. He was credited with one aerial victory in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations on the 16th of July. He flew a P-51 Mustang in September of 1944 where he was a group commander who led in strafing attacks on a Romanian airfield. He was credited for leaving many parked planes ablaze, including a number of Merseburg powered gliders, as well as destroying several oil tank cars as they completed a mission. The airmen made five separate passes, ^[9] with Capt Alfonza W. Davis leading the group. ^[10]. At the end of the day, 83 aircraft were destroyed on the Groszwardeir, Romania airdrome. The effort was described as "the most effective machine-gunning of German aircraft on the ground in a single airfield ever carried out in the Mediterranean theater." ^[11].

On October 20, 1944, he was appointed Squadron Commander of the 99th Fighter Squadron. It had been his dream to achieve this position. He was quoted as saying,"I have always wanted to be one of you even when you were undergoing your initial training at Chanute Field in 1941 and I was serving in the 9th Cavalry--unfortunately, I was unable to transfer at that time, however my heart was with you then, just as it is now."

On Oct 29, 1944, Alfonza departed from Ramitelli airfield on a photo reconnaissance mission to Munich, Germany. He was seen entering a thick area of cloud coverage near the Gulf of Triest, about 12 miles west of Salvore Point. 1Lt. Quitman C. Walker, who was on the mission with Alfonza, tried repeatedly to get him to respond to radio calls, but there was no response.^[12] Alfonza literally disappeared from sight and neither he, nor his plane, were ever recovered. He was declared missing in action and in January of 1945, the news broke on the front page of the local paper.^[13].

Alfonza was highly respected by everyone who met him. His wife claimed that men and women just loved him. In respect to their marriage, she once commented, "It was short and sweet. But Romeo and Juliet never had an anniversary." ^[14]

Alfonza's name is inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery.^[15]. The date listed is his Finding of Death.

He is the holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters as well as the Purple Heart.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNYN-B3G : accessed 26 July 2020), Ofines Davis in household of John Davis, Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, United States; citing ED 33, sheet 10A, line 9, family 207, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 220; FHL microfilm 1,820,220.
2. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD2Q-W62 : 20 May 2020), Allie Davis, 1920.
3. ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJDZ-JKP : 27 September 2017), John Davis and Josephine Moore, 08 Jan 1924, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States; citing reference cn 34720, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,476,882.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQKH-VRN : accessed 26 July 2020), Alphonso Davis in household of John Davis, Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 19, sheet 21A, line 29, family 290, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1273; FHL microfilm 2,341,008.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K999-FJM : 24 December 2019), Alfonza Davis in household of John Davis, Ward 2, Omaha, Omaha City, Douglas, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 94-30, sheet 14B, line 44, family 336, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2269.
6. ↑ 1941 Creighton College Yearbook, pg. 30.
7. ↑ Headquarters 332nd Fighter Group; Special Accounts; Oct 1944, P 4339
8. ↑ FHC Film # 02319411
9. ↑ The Bristol News Bulletin, 31 Aug 1944, pg. 12.
10. ↑ The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln Nebraska, 1 sep 1944, pg 3.
11. ↑ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1 sep 1944, pg.2
12. ↑ MACR 9586, pg. 3.
13. ↑ The Nebraska State Journal, 24 Jan 1945, pg1.
14. ↑ Green Bay Press-Gazette, 11 Nov 1985, pg. 16.
15. ↑ https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/davis%3Dalfonza

See also:

• Wikipedia: Alfonza W. Davis
• Wikidata: Item Q4722135, en:Wikipedia