ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – A New York State Historic Marker will be going up on Cascadilla Street in Ithaca to honor one of famed Tuskegee Airmen.
This group of pilots who served in World War II and were the first African American military pilots in the U.S. Armed Forces.
While researching a book, Cornell professor Thomas Campanella came across Verdelle Louis Payne, who served with the Tuskegee Airmen and was born at 212 Cascadilla Street.
Not only was Payne an Ithacan, he was one of the first Black people from Upstate New York to earn his pilot’s license and flew with the Air Force’s 99th Fighter Squadron.
Professor Campanella partnered with Historic Ithaca to secure the marker to honor Payne’s contribution to American history. It will be installed later this fall.
