Manufactured in 1943, this pistol comes with a signed and notarized statement from Clinton M. Davis, son of Ralph Hickman Davis, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Corps. The statement identifies the item as the service weapon of his father, and states that it had remained in the family until 2015. Born in Rhode Island in 1915, Ralph Davis took an early interest in aviation, performing errands and odd jobs around a local airfield in exchange for rides (and later instruction) from the pilots; he is on record as the first licensed African-American pilot in the state. Davis was one of multiple volunteers when the "Tuskegee Experience" began in 1941, though as a result of the excessively tight restrictions on aviation candidates he was not selected for a pilot slot, instead training on ground support. Initially activated at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois, the 99th Pursuit Squadron (aka the 99th Fighter Squadron due to a mid-war terminology change) later relocated to Tuskegee Airfield in Alabama to complete training prior to deploying for Africa and Europe. Davis himself would remain at Tuskegee as part of the training cadre for ground crews destined for Africa and Europe, earning the American Theater and American Defense ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal prior to his discharge (honorable) in November of 1945. The "Tuskegee Experience" started winding down after the end of the War alongside a general reduction in military force, coming to a full end with the integration of the armed forces in 1949. In civilian life he returned to flying, as well as restoring vintage aircraft. A number of papers and records of Davis' service are now on file with the Library of Virginia, and he was inducted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame. Blade front and flat top rear sights, with the two-line, two-block markings divided by the Rampant Colt on the left side of the slide and a "F.J.A." inspected frame. Fitted with a thin checkered hammer, short stamped trigger, long grip safety, arched checkered mainspring housing, white plastic grips (mentioned in Clinton Davis's statement), unmarked full blue magazine, and a High Standard barrel. A number of photocopied documents (likely taken from the items now on deposit with the Library of Virginia) are included; among them are Davis' discharge papers, vintage wartime photographs of Davis and his comrades in the 99th, a copied yearbook page listing Davis with the 889th Basic Flying Training Squadron, post-WWII pictures of Davis and his family, as well as general history and related papers for the Tuskegee Airmen.

Fine, with 70% of the thin parkerized finish, showing bright edge wear, a brown patina on the grip straps, and scattered light wear and handling marks. The grips are shrunken, with some discoloration and scratching. The grip safety needs adjustment (is not engaging the sear spring), and the rear sight shows evidence of having been removed and driven back into the replacement Colt slide slot, otherwise the pistol is mechanically fine.