'White' black airman receives military honour

The US air force was segregated during World War Two

A light-skinned black American man who pretended to be white in order to enter the US military has been posthumously awarded seven medals for his courage during World War Two.

Calvin Clark Davis flew more than 50 missions over the Pacific - enough to exempt him from further missions - but volunteered to fight in Europe where he was killed over Germany.

I just wanted him to get what he's entitled to, and I wanted to make sure his story would live on after I'm gone

Cousin Calvin Murphy

The United States air force at the time enforced a strict policy of segregation, meaning black soldiers were not permitted to serve alongside their white countrymen in combat roles.

Relatives of Davis, descended from a white plantation owner and a black slave, were given the medals at a ceremony in Bear Lake, Michigan where Davis was from.

They included the Purple Heart, one of America's highest military honours.

Dedication

Congressman Pete Hoekstra, who read a description of each medal at the ceremony as fellow congressman John Conyers presented them, described Davis' life as "one of the most incredible stories of dedication to (this) country I have ever heard".

Davis' cousin spotted his story in the newspaper

"Even (with) the imperfections and the hostility that was shown to them by their country, they loved America," he said.

Davis' story came to light after his cousin Calvin Murphy spotted a newspaper article about Davis being owed several medals for his exemplary service.

He contacted several organisations and officials, including the office of Mr Hoekstra.

"I just wanted him to get what he's entitled to," Mr Murphy told the Associated Press news agency.

"And I wanted to make sure his story would live on after I'm gone."

Heroism

Davis enlisted in the Fifth US Army Air Force in May 1941, several months before America entered WW II.

He should be honoured not only for his heroic efforts as a soldier, but for his willingness to serve a country that did not necessarily want his service

Congressman John Conyers

In 1943 he received the American medal the Distinguished Flying Cross along with his bomber crew for heroism during an attack on a Japanese airfield in 1943.

His plane had left formation to protect other American planes, even though their own bomber was severely damaged.

Davis then became a radio operator after transferring to Europe aboard a B-17 bomber.

But on 30 November 1944, less than a year before the War ended, his plane and another collided during an attack on German oil refineries.

Davis, along with six of the bomber's nine crewmen, was killed instantly.

Now Mr Hoekstra, alongside another congressman, John Conyers, is looking into whether Davis should receive the Silver Star and the Medal of Honour - two of America's highest military accolades.

"He should be honoured not only for his heroic efforts as a soldier, but for his willingness to serve a country that did not necessarily want his service," Mr Conyers said.