Tuskegee Airman Lt. Oliver Goodall Finally Gets His Honors – At His Home in Altadena

One Altadena resident’s idea to honor a special member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen pilot corps has finally taken flight.

The late Lieutenant O. Oliver Goodall, one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, will be honored with a bronze plaque at his former home at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16 in Altadena, 679 W. Harriet St.

The current resident, Eugene Hutchins discovered the home he purchased a few years back actually belonged to a real hero in the late Lt. Goodall. In honor of the pilot, Hutchins started a campaign to commemorate Lt. Goodall on what used to be the property he once owned.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps (AAC). The pilots, trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, flew more than 15,000 missions in Europe and North Africa during World War II. Their impressive performance earned them more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and helped encourage the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces.

Lt. Goodall entered the U.S. Army Air Corps at Tuskegee in February 1943. In October 1944, he graduated as a multi-engine pilot and became part of the Tuskegee Airmen. He was among 60 African-American officers arrested for trying to peacefully integrate an all-white officers’ club, which came to be known as the Freeman Field Mutiny. The mutiny was an important step toward full integration of all U.S. armed forces worldwide in June 1949, and served as a model for later Civil Rights efforts to integrate public facilities.

“Attention must be paid to the accomplishments and civil rights achieved,” said Hutchins. “It’s going really well and we’ve been fortunate that a plaque is being completed as we speak.”

The First AME Gospel Choir and two Tuskegee Airmen will be on hand for the ceremony. The event also serves to commemorate Black History Month.

Lt. Goodall’s grandson, Antuan Goodall, will also speak at the event and Mr. Goodall favorite Pastor, Rev. Yvonne Williams Boyd, will also speak.

Lt. Goodall was previously honored by The Pasadena and Altadena Branches of the NAACP with their Rosa Parks Legacy Award in 2010 and the Italian Post Office at 281 East Colorado Blvd in Pasadena was named in his honor.

Hutchins said the event is shaping up nicely with music and entertainment as well as some special guests who will be on hand, including real Tuskegee Airmen from World War II, Jerry Hodges and the 100-year-old Ted Lumkin.

“Lieutenant Goodall lived in my house for more than 50 years,” Hutchins said. “I hope this is the beginning of a historic journey that honors the contributions of African Americans in Altadena and in our community.”

Hutchins said he didn’t know who had been living in the home when he bought it.

“I didn’t know who lived in the house prior to me,” he said. “It wasn’t until I spoke to the neighbors that I learned.”

Hutchins is managing director of Barak Ballet in Santa Monica.

He credited several organizations for chipping in to make the dream of honoring Goodall a reality. He said Mark Mariscal of the Rotary Club of Altadena played a major role in getting the ball rolling on the cause.

Additional contributors include Altadena Community Garden, Altadena Heritage, Altadena Libraries, Altadena Town Council, Day One, Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Outward Bound Adventures, Rhythms of the Village, Side Street Project, and individual contributors.

“It’s very exciting,” Hutchins said. “One of the things I’m excited about is we have the First AME Gospel Choir performing. It’s going to be a wonderful day and people will learn about the Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Goodall and learn about our local history.”