The oldest known living man in America is 110 years old, served with the legendary Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and has lived long enough to see military aviation evolve from propeller-driven fighters to supersonic stealth aircraft. His name is James Clayton Flowers, and his life is a remarkable piece of American history. Born in Virginia on Christmas Day in 1915, Flowers grew up in a country where racial segregation shaped nearly every aspect of daily life, including who was permitted to serve as a military pilot. He joined the US Army Air Forces during World War II and became associated with the Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering Black military aviators whose achievements challenged the discrimination entrenched within the armed forces. Flowers served as a first lieutenant and helped train fellow servicemen, including through aviation intelligence instruction. His contribution formed part of a much larger effort that helped demonstrate the professionalism and abilities of Black military personnel at a time when they were routinely denied equal opportunities. After leaving the military, Flowers pursued another career in education, spending approximately three decades teaching science in New York City. He eventually retired to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he has continued sharing his experiences and receiving recognition for his service. In March 2026, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham honoured him with the state’s Medal of Merit. Then, following the death of Major Jewel McDonald on October 4, Flowers became the oldest known living man in the United States whose age has been validated by longevity researchers. His birth date has been independently verified, making this an extraordinary record rather than simply an unconfirmed family claim. Flowers was already 24 when World War II began in Europe. He witnessed the birth of the jet age, the first Moon landing, the arrival of commercial supersonic flight and the development of aircraft that can operate without an onboard pilot. Yet his own story remains one of the most important parts of that history. A man who helped break barriers in American aviation has lived to see a world in which those barriers are no longer legally acceptable. And at 110, his place in aviation history is still being recognised. #TuskegeeAirmen #AviationHistory #Flightdrama - @robertbeck4002