John H. Chavis was born on August 19, 1921. His childhood was spent in Raleigh education, eventually getting a college degree from Shaw University in 1942. After college, Chavis enlisted in the army and attended the Tuskegee Air Pilot Program. Second Lieutenant John H. Chavis,who entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from North Carolina, was a Tuskegee Airman who served in the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. 

On February 15, 1945, John, a pilot with his squadron, was escorting bombers to Munich, Germany. He was flying a P-51C named Connecticut Yankee. After take-off, he joined the formation and entered a cloud. Through the thick cloud, many men went missing. Despite several missing men, only Second Lieutenant Chavis was never found, and neither he nor his plane has ever been recovered.

Fred L. Brewer was born on August 4, 1921. His childhood was spent in Charlotte education, eventually getting a college degree from Shaw University in 1942. After college, Brewer enlisted in the army and trained to become a single-engine fighter pilot at Tuskegee Army Air Field. In late 1944, Brewer was a pilot with the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen, in the European Theater. 

On October 19, 1944, he flew a single-seat P-51C Mustang from Ramitelli Air Field in Italy to escort a bomber mission over enemy targets in Regensburg, Germany. The flight split into three groups, but heavy cloud cover forced nine fighters to return early, and they needed help to locate their aircraft or target. Only 47 soldiers returned to base, and Second Lieutenant Brewer was not among them. On August 10, 2023, Brewer's remains were finally located.