Russell Clarence Nalle, Jr.
August 30, 1921 February 7, 2025
Class: 44-H-TE
Graduation date: 9/8/1944
Rank at time of graduation: Flt. Officer
Unit: 477th Bombardment Group
Service # T66150
From: Detroit MI
Born in 1921, Mr. Nalle was one of the heroic Tuskegee Airmen who served during World War II. He answered the call to duty in 1944, serving with the 477th Bombardment Group.
The Tuskegee Airmen were more than just pilots and flight crew members; they were pioneers. Breaking barriers in a segregated military, they showcased unparalleled skill and bravery. As Mr. Nalle once said in a news interview, “We knew we had to be twice as good to get half the credit. But that didn’t deter us… It fueled us.”
Later in life he was self-employed working in the real estate and construction professions. Russell enjoyed jazz music, classic films, and mysteries. He was a light-hearted and kind man. Russell loved animals, history, the sciences, mathematics, and art. He particularly had a keen interest in astronomy as he was always fascinated with the solar system and Milky Way.
Visit the Red Tail Virtual Museum to see his class photo.
Sources:
David C. Brown Funeral Home
Elara Caring
Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
