FAIRFIELD, Calif. (CN) - A retired Air Force colonel and former Tuskegee Airman claims Solano County forced him to shut down a flight instruction program for disadvantaged youth, but gave white flight instructors a free pass.
In a lawsuit filed in Solano County Superior Court, Col. James Warren claims county workers at Nut Tree Airport told his flight instructor to "immediately cease and desist all flight instruction and related activities, and ordered Col. Warren to land his aircraft."
County maintenance worker Eric Johnson allegedly called the sheriff and threatened Warren's flight instructor with physical harm.
Airport manager Andrew Swanson then forced Warren to stop all free flight instruction offered under the youth scholarship program, the complaint states.
Warren says white flight operators and instructors were allowed to give lessons "without restrictions or interference" from the county.
He seeks actual and punitive damages from Solano County, Johnson and Swanson for alleged race discrimination and infliction of emotional distress.
Warren was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black pilots to serve during World War II, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for service during the Korean War, according to the complaint.
He is represented by Pamela Price and James Warren with Price and Associates in Oakland, Calif.
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