Robert Selway

Robert Roy Selway, Jr. (December 31, 1902 – September 12, 1967)[1] was a United States Army Air Forces officer best known for being the first commanding officer of the 477th Medium Bombardment Group of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and for his role in the Freeman Field mutiny.[2][3][4]

Robert Selway
Colonel Robert Selway reviews members of the 618th Bombardment Squadron at Atterbury Air Field in Indiana in 1944.
Born(1902-12-31)December 31, 1902
DiedSeptember 12, 1967(1967-09-12) (aged 64)
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army Air Forces
RankColonel
Commands held477th Medium Bombardment Group
Battles/warsWorld War II

Freeman Field mutiny
Main article: Freeman Field mutiny

On April 5, 1945, members of the all-black 477th Medium Bombardment Group protested Selway's segregation of Freeman Field's officer clubs by entering the club designated by Selway to be for "supervisory and instructor personnel" instead of the club designated for "trainees." Despite the experience of some of the group's members, Selway had classified all members of the 447th Bombardment Group as trainees, effectively segregating the officer clubs by race. 36 officers entered the first day and were arrested when they refused to leave, while 35 officers were arrested the next night.[5]:133

Shortly after, Selway implemented Base Regulation 85-2, assigning specific housing, mess, and recreational facilities to officers. Selway proceeded to order each officer to sign a form confirming that they had read and understood the regulation. 101 of the 422 officers refused to sign, and were arrested for insubordination.[5]:133–135

On April 23, General George Marshall ordered the 101 released, while General Henry H. Arnold transferred command of the 447th Bombardment Group to Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr.[5]:140

References
  1. "Robert Roy Selway, Jr (1902-1967)". Find a Grave. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  2. Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen, Homan, Lynn, Thomas Reilly, page 190
  3. Sarasota Herald-Tribune, March 7, 1943
  4. Red Tail Captured, Red Tail Free: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman and POW, Alexander Jefferson, page 34
  5. Moye, Todd (2010). Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-538655-4.
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