Plainfield to Unveil Plaque Honoring Six Tuskegee Airmen

The Parks and Recreation Division will dedicate an interpretive plaque at the Plainfield Veterans Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in African-American

Plainfield to Unveil Plaque Honoring Six Tuskegee Airmen

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation will unveil an interpretive plaque honoring six Plainfield-born Tuskegee Airmen who served in World War II. The ceremony at the Plainfield Veterans Memorial begins at 11 a.m. and follows a reception with cider and doughnuts.

Why it matters

The plaque recognizes local men who were among the first graduates of the U.S. Army Corps Civilian Pilot Training Program and who later served as pilots and ground crew. It adds to the city's "History of Plainfield" series, which continues to document local figures for residents.

Five of the six honored airmen served as bomber pilots during World War II, while Cpl. Calvin H. Hall served on a ground operational support crew. The Tuskegee Airmen collectively received the Congressional Gold Medal in March 2007.

The players

Plainfield Division of Parks and Recreation

The municipal division of Plainfield, New Jersey, that oversees the city's parks programming and its "History of Plainfield" plaque series.

Tuskegee Airmen

The first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Forces, trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama during World War II.

The details

Plainfield historian Ethel M. Washington researched and wrote the plaque, which names 2nd Lt. Samuel Albert Black Jr., 2nd Lt. Russell W. Carpenter Jr., 2nd Lt. Warren E. Henry, 2nd Lt. Charles E. Miller, 1st Lt. Lloyd R. Shults and Cpl. Calvin H. Hall. Dan Channel, a past state commander of the American Legion Department of New Jersey, is scheduled to speak on the significance of the honorees.

March 2007: Tuskegee Airmen collectively receive the Congressional Gold Medal.
2023: The History of Plainfield series begins with a plaque honoring Olympic athlete Milt Campbell.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m.: Plaque unveiling ceremony at the Plainfield Veterans Memorial.

Legacy Recognition

The local plaque follows the Congressional Gold Medal the Tuskegee Airmen collectively received in March 2007, extending national recognition to six Plainfield-born members of that group. It also continues the city's History of Plainfield series, which began in 2023 with a plaque honoring Olympic athlete Milt Campbell.

Plainfield residents can attend the free public ceremony at the Veterans Memorial next to City Hall on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. The event includes a reception with cider and doughnuts after the unveiling.

The takeaway

Local plaques like this one preserve the records of residents whose service might otherwise go unnoticed, and attending a ceremony is a direct way to learn that history. Residents interested in the series can look for future plaques in the Parks and Recreation program.