One could argue that he is not a legitimate Tuskegee Airman because he didn't earn his wings at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama nor did he fly combat missions over Europe in P-51 "Red Tails" . Or one could argue that he is a genuine Tuskegee Airman, just like his four Addison predecessors who, like Randall,  enrolled at Tuskegee Air Field  for  flight training. They, unlike Randall, were not frowned upon by destiny and were awarded  their wings at Tuskegee.   While the truth is somewhere in between,  I chose to include him with our illustrious group honored on this website.  My rationale is simple...as the author/owner/artist for this website, I must make the call either way.  I mentally flipped a virtual coin labeled "near-miss" on one side, "near-hit" on the other. My heart won when the coin landed with  "near-hit" face up.    I am like baseball's left field umpire without the benefit of  television re-play. He saw the ball tick the edge of the foul line and it is, therefore, fair. In my view, he is no different than Addison underclassmen in 1973, when the school was closed. They were forced by circumstance to graduate elsewhere, but they were already Addisonians,...bulldogs,...and family.  I'm sure you will agree with my reasoning ionce you read Colonel Randall's impressive biography below.  It details his journey to becoming, to my knowledge, Lucy Addison's one and only jet fighter pilot to fly combat missions. 

       Randall served in both  the Korean and Vietnam Wars. That he survived being shot down over Vietnam certainly adds to his impressive credentials.  That he has been, for many years, an active, traveling ambassador for the Tuskegee Airmen National Organization, Colorado Chapter, seals the deal as far as I am concerned.  Once could say that the war's end and subsequent cancellation of flight training classes at Tuskegee's Air Field was Destiny's way of  denying him "Tuskegee wings" .  His  biography reveals that he, not  willing to be denied, out-dueled Destiny  in their  dog fight by finding an alternate path  to  his target, then making the most of it .  I'm certain that his four Addison Red Tail  "band of brothers" would agree.

 - Thomas R. Dudley

       Colonel James E.P. Randall served thirty-six  years in the United States Air Force, including active duty and reserve status. He flew combat missions in two wars and is a fighter pilot in every sense of the word.    As a youngster growing up in Roanoke, Virginia, he often dreamed of becoming a fighter.                                                                                                         

     James joined the Army Air Corps while still attending Roanoke's Lucy Addison High School.   Upon graduation in 1945, he was called to active duty the following August. After completing  basic training, he was assigned to Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama.  With the ending of the war, however, all pilot training was cancelled and he was returned to reserve status. In 1946,  James enrolled in Hampton Institute, majoring in Industrial Education until he was recalled to active duty by the new United States Air Force in 1949.

   Randall  completed Flight Training at Randolph  Air Force Base in Texas, then Advanced Fighter  Training at Las Vegas Air Force Base in Nevada.  On being commissioned  an officer in the Air Force in 1950, Lieutenant Randall was assigned to Perrin Air Force Base in Texas as a flight instructor.   In 1951, he relocated to Craig Air Force Base in Alabama, becoming a F-51 instructor.   The Korean War was underway. Lt. Randall heeded a call to action once assigned to the 12th Fighter Bomb Squadron.  He flew a total of 75 F-51 combat missions in the Korean War.  Later, during the Vietnam conflict, he added 44 more combat missions to his total before being shot down over Vietnam.

    His outstanding career as a fighter pilot encompassed over 7,300 flying hours in numerous types and models of aircraft, primarily including the F-105 Thunderchief, the largest and most powerful jet in the Air Force at the time.  Colonel Randall  ultimately logged 256 combat hours in the two wars.  His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal and the Purple Heart.  Colonel Randall held numerous positions in the Air Force including a stint as Base Commander of Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida.  He retired from the North American Air Defense Command with the rank of full Colonel.

     Randall is a long time member of the Hubert L. "Hooks" Jones Chapter  of the Tuskegee Airmen National Organization headquartered in Tuskegee, Alabama.  He and his wife, Essie, live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.