2020 Bernard’s High School Wall Of Honor Inductee - Captain Robert Terry
Class of 1930 and Tuskegee Airmen Flight Instructor join’s the Wall Of Honor at this upcoming April 12th, 5 PM ceremony to take place at the Bernard’s High School Performing Arts Center. This Wall Of Honor is the final project Mrs. June Kennedy asked me to complete before her passing. Mrs. Kennedy was the previous Bernard’s Township Historian, now held by Mr. Brooks Betz. Mrs. Kennedy handed me an unfinished folder filled with very little basic information that evolved into a monumental task to accomplish. I was captured and intrigued looking for people I had never heard of.
Traveling through time via the internet, local and national museums, Bernardsville & Bernard’s Townships Public Library History departments, numerous emails, phone calls, favors, heavy machinery, Congressperson, Senators, Bernard’s Township Town Council, Bernard’s High School and tracking down family members for any assistance. Ms. Malika Ra, Granddaughter and Ridge High School graduate along with Dr. Qaaim Saalik the son of Robert and Estelle Terry were very helpful. Mrs. Joan Bannon was an incredible contributor along the way.
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Five rewards are accredited to the one folder:
Reward #1. Bernard’s High School Wall Of Honor for 1930 Graduate Robert Terry, Spring 2024. Many thanks go out to Mr. Scott Niegel, Principal, Bernard’s High School and Mrs. Annika Gruters. The Historical Room Historians in the Bernardsville Public Library for the 1930 copy of The Bernard’s Crimson and 1940’s In Service.
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Reward #2. Hometown Heroes Banner, fall 2020 - Flown each year in Basking Ridge for Captain Robert & Estelle Terry for service during WWII. Captain Robert-Flight Instructor, Estelle-Parachute Packer, grounds support.
Reward #3. Congressional Gold Medals Of Honor for Robert & Estelle Terry, July 2022. Thank you for the work done by Mr. Brooks Betz, the current Bernard’s Township Historian and Mr. Daniel Bliss, past Congressional Staffer for contacting members for this honor, medals and certificates. Mr. Betz was able to arrange a small ceremony with family members and guests for a wonderful presentation.
Reward #4. Memorial Boulder & Plaque, May 2021 – Located on South Maple Avenue in Basking Ridge on the property of the now closed historic Somerset Hills Regional Airport. A very big THANK YOU goes out to Mr. Gary Mahan for the bolder and installation, Mrs. Joan Bannan’s assistance with the plaque inscription and Mr. Daniel Bliss for his plaque mounting assistance.
The plaque reads: As a young African American, Robert, a 1930 graduate of Bernard’s High School, lived in a house across the street from the airport and dreamed of flying. In 1931, in exchange for flight lessons, he cleared most of the airport’s runway and obtained his pilot’s license. When WWII broke out, he applied to the army air force, but was rejected due to ongoing segregation. Determined to serve, in 1941, he became a flight instructor at Moton field, Alabama for the famed Tuskegee airmen, a group of all-black fighter and bomber squadrons. Estelle joined him and supported the war effort by packing the airmen’s parachutes (Caterpiller club) and delivering mail. She also gave birth to their son, earned her pilot’s license, and flew various types of aircraft including bombers.
After the war, the Terry’s returned to their home in Bernard’s Township. Robert applied to major airlines to work as a pilot, but his applications were routinely rejected because of his race. He went onto instruct us air force reservists at Floyd Bennett field in Brooklyn, NY and was the chief pilot and instructor at the Somerset Hills Airport until his death in 1958. Estelle volunteered as a nurse’s aide for many years at the Lyons Veterans administration. She passed away in 2009.
By act of congress in 2006, the Tuskegee airmen, who included flight instructors, were collectively awarded a congressional gold medal in recognition of their unique military record, which “inspired revolutionary reform, paving the way for full racial integration in the US armed forces. They overcame the enormous challenges of prejudice and discrimination, succeeding, despite obstacles that threatened them with failure.”
Thus, we thank and honor Captain Robert and Estelle terry for their devotion to our country, their strength of character in the face of bias and racism and their historic achievements. Dedicated by the citizens of Bernard’s Township, 2022
Reward #5. My personal gratification for accomplishing this request, service to my community and saving lost history of one of our residence.
Make Your Day Great!!!
Chris McManemin
Bernard’s Township
