When a Legend Needs a Lift, a Community Comes Together

Business aviation helps bring Brigadier General Charles Edward McGee’s story full circle.

Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 05:54 PM ET

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Brigadier General Charles Edward McGee on his way to Kansas City to watch the renaming of the general aviation terminal at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (KMKC) after him. [Photo: Michael Wildes]

Key Takeaways:

Vincent Mickens organized multiple private jet trips for Brigadier General Charles Edward McGee, a legendary Tuskegee Airman and triple war veteran, enabling him to attend numerous honors and celebrations across the country in his centennial years (ages 100-102).
These special journeys, facilitated by business aviation partners, allowed McGee to receive significant accolades, including the renaming of a Kansas City general aviation terminal in his honor and recognition at military training facilities, which would have been impractical via commercial travel due to his age and pandemic restrictions.
The article frames these trips as completing a "full circle" for McGee, transforming from facing racial segregation as a pilot to witnessing the Air Force dedicate new training aircraft to the Tuskegee Airmen's legacy, with business aviation playing a vital role in connecting these meaningful moments.

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Last spring, a good friend and mentor of mine, Vincent Mickens, who’s the founder and CEO of the Private Air Media Group, shared a special trip he was putting together for a good friend of his.

He told me this friend was a veteran who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the war in Vietnam. Throughout his 30 years of service, this friend, Vince explained, flew more than 400 missions and served as a commander on two separate occasions. In his post-retirement, he was being honored for this life in public service along with a host of rightfully earned accolades, including a Congressional Gold Medal, induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and, in 2020, at the ripe old age of 100, a promotion to brigadier general.