Tuskegee Airman Lt. Colonel Charles W. Dryden has accepted the station’s invitation to lead off the 47th annual parade down Peachtree Street as the parade celebrates the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.

On June 9, 1943, then Lieutenant Charles Dryden, in his P-40 nicknamed “A-Train”, led a flight of six pilots engaging enemy fighter aircraft in aerial combat over Pantellia, Sicily. It was the first time in aviation history that black American pilots of the US Army Corps (now Air Force) engaged aircraft in combat.

Col. Dryden went on to fly 30 missions during World War II and 50 missions during the Korean War. This past March, President Bush awarded Col. Dryden the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal.

You can see Col. Dryden, along with Miss America and other celebrities when the 47th Annual Salute 2 America Parade kicks off Wednesday, July 4th at 1:00pm. Channel 2’s coverage begins at 12:30pm.