Tuskegee Airman Paul Lehman

Tuskegee Airman Paul Lehman enlisted into the United States Army in November , 1942. He received navigator/bombardier training at Hondo, Texas. Later at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio, Lt. Lehman served as Post Exchange Officer for the 477th Bomb Group while flying in B-25 bombers.

After the desegregation of the armed services, Lt. Lehman entered additional navigation training at Mather Air Force Base in California. In 1950, he deployed to Korea during the Korean War, where he flew approximately 68 missions.

After returning to the US in 1952, Lt. Lehman was promoted to Captain. He was assigned to Fairchild Air Force base in Spokane, Washington with Strategic Air Command’s (SAC) 57th Air Division. Capt. Lehman earned an aeronautical rating of Senior Aircraft Observer, and later in June of 1957, he earned the rating of Senior Navigator. His coursework included training in Principles of Guided Missiles and Nuclear Weapons Delivery Operations.

Capt. Lehman transferred to Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts where he served as a navigator on top-secret B-36 and B-52 bombers with SAC. In 1960, he received the aeronautical rating of Master Navigator.

In 1965, he attended the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama – the foremost U.S. leadership college for air and space education. He was also working on his Master of Science degree in International Affairs at George Washington University in Washington, DC, while attending the Air War College. He received his Masters Degree in 1966. 

Lt. Col. Paul Lehman retired from the US Air Force after serving 27 years.

Paul Lehman was personally a very nice individual. He was humble and never talked about himself or his accomplishments. Paul was always concerned about helping other people. He was a very well liked person and in this life, that counts more than anything.