Ferrier H. White was born 1921 in Elyria, Lorain County, Ohio (north central about 40 miles east of Cleveland) to Henry and Fosterina E. White.  Ferrier was one of 3 children.  He attended and graduated from High School. 

Ferrier moved around quite a bit finding jobs as a mechanic and repairman.  He lived for a time with his aunt, Alice Kyle who lived at 820 Coates Street in Coatesville.

Ferrier enlisted in the Army Air Forces on January 29, 1942.

Ferrier received pilot training at Tuskegee, Alabama, where Black pilots were trained.  These pilots later became  known as the "Tuskegee Airmen".  Ferrier received his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant upon graduating from Tuskegee flight school on October 16, 1944 with class 44-I-1-SE.

This was the first all African American Fighter Group, the 332^nd.  The 332^nd Fighter Group consisted of the 99^th, 100^th, 301^st, and 302^nd Fighter Squadrons.  The Group escorted bombers, losing very few to enemy fighters.

 

P51b - Click to Enlarge

P51d - Click to Enlarge

P47 Click to Enlarge Photo Credits

The Group initially flew P-40 Warhawks, the briefly P-30 Aircobras in March 1944 (an unusual aircraft with the engine was behind the pilot making room for a 37 mm cannon which fired through the propeller shaft). In June - July they transitioned to the P-47 Thunderbolts, then to the P-51 Mustang later in July. The Group painted the top of their rudders red to distinguish themselves, and hence known as the “Red Tails”.

Ferrier was assigned to the 100^th Squadron.  The first squadron, the 99^th was sent overseas based in North Africa in May 1943, then to Italy after we liberated portions of that country.  The 99^th was joined by the newly trained pilots of the 100^th, 301^st and 302^nd, and consolidated as the 322^nd Fighter Group.

On April 5, 1945 Second Lieutenant Ferrier H. White was lost over the Adriatic Sea.

Ferrier is honored on the tablets of the Missing in Action at the Florence American Cemetery in Italy.

Ferrier is also honored on the Oberlin, Ohio Soldiers Monument.