Alfred Gorham

2nd Lt. Alfred M. Gorham (1920-2009) was a Tuskegee Airman from Waukesha Wisconsin. He was the only Tuskegee Airman from Wisconsin, and he was a prisoner of war after his plane went down over Munich, Germany in World War II.

World War II
After joining the Army Air Force in 1942 Gorham became a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen. He graduated from the Tuskegee University February 8, 1944.

On August 7, 1944 Gorham was part of a group of Tuskegee Airmen escorting B-24 bombers. The mission was a bombing raid on oil refineries inside Germany at Blechhammer. Gorham got lost while returning from the mission. He tried to land at Lesina Airfield. The airfield had no lights and Gorham crash landed into Lake Lesina. The P-51 burst into flames but Gorham survived.

He saw action over Budapest Hungary and shot down two German Focke-Wulf 190 Fighters. In 1945 his P-51 had engine trouble over Munich Germany and he bailed out. He was captured and held by the Germans until the end of the war.

Awards

 * Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart ribbon
 * Prisoner of War Medal ribbon.svg Prisoner of War Medal ribbon
 * The Congressional Gold Medal as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen

Education
Waukesha High School June 1938.

Personal life
After graduating from Waukesha High School in 1938 Gorham was accepted to Carrol College. However he took a job as a precision tool grinder. He later enlisted in the army and eventually he was accepted to the Tuskegee Airmen.