Roy LaGrone

Roy Elmer LaGrone (1921 – 1993)

Roy Elmer LaGrone, an Original Tuskegee Airman, was a noted artist as well as a member of the famous “Red Tails” the first all black aviation squadron in World War II. The unit was formed as an “experiment” since the question of whether or not black men had the capability to learn to fly an airplane was unsettled. The Tuskegee Airmen settled it.

LaGrone was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on February 1, 1921. LaGrone attended the segregated school system in Pine Bluff during the 30’s, graduating from Merrill High School. During that time his fascination with flying began when he, as a teenager, took a short ride in an airplane from a local airfield. The experience convinced him that aviation was what he wanted to do in his life.

LaGrone attended Tuskegee Institute (now University). Before graduating, he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942 and later entered flight training at the Tuskegee Army Air Field graduating on April 15, 1944 commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

LaGrone was a fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group (the famous “Red Tails”) flying P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs participating in escort missions for heavy bombers over Germany and occupied Europe. He participated in the longest escort mission performed by the Tuskegee unit, a 1,600 mile round-trip from Italy to Berlin on March 24, 1945 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He also received two Bronze Star medals during his European service.

Roy was stationed in Caserta, Italy. He often noted that the Italian theater provided a different social experience than the U.S., famously stating that it was the first place he could, ”sit down in a restaurant and be treated like a customer.” LaGrone attained the rank of Major and after his discharge remained in Italy to study at the University of Florence. During his stay he met his future wife. They eventually settled in Somerset, New Jersey where they raised their two daughters. He returned to the U.S. and completed his studies at the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, graduating in 1949.

LaGrone’s forty-four year career as an artist began by designing and illustrating book jackets for the major New York publishers such as Harper & Row, Random House and others. He served as illustrator and designer for Family Circle Magazine. He was Art Director for Avon Books, Pageant Magazine and for CBS. Roy’s life-long project was to tell the story of the sacrifices and contributions of the nation’s black military aviators through his paintings. He has twenty-four paintings in the Air Force Art Collection housed in the Pentagon. In 1996, his artwork was featured in Tuskegee’s Heroes: As depicted in the Aviation Art of Roy E. LaGrone which was published by Motorbooks International. In 2001, he was inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum. LaGrone died of a heart attack in his home in Somerset County, New Jersey, on December 8, 1993, aged 72.