Tommy Tomahawk

Real Name: Tommy Tomahawk

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Fighter pilot

Group Membership: International Air Patrol, USAF, Tomahawk Squadron (John Little Bear, Little Black Bear, Red Wing, others)

Affiliations: Colonel John Ramsey

Enemies: Japanese soldiers, mobsters

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations:San Francisco;
   formerly Pacific theater of war

First Appearance: Contact Comics #1 (Aviation Press, July 1944)

Powers/Abilities: Excellent pilot, lethal fighter.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Black

Summary: Tommy Tomahawk was the leader of an all-Native American squadron of fighter pilots. Wanting to draw inspiration from their warrior ancestors, they flew into battle wearing headresses and sometimes full native costume, while screaming their battle cry of "Cherok-ee-ee!" (see comments).

History:

Comments: Created by G.H. Appel.

   It was the 1940s, so having a Native American character as the lead was unusual and progressive by that era's standards. On the other hand, assuming that the squadron's battle cry was meant to signify that they were Cherokee then the headdresses and "traditional" native garb they sometimes wore was inaccurate for that tribe, at least as far as my admittedly minimal understanding of such things leads me to believe. In the real world it was probably simply that the creators of the series had made the common error of conflating aspects of various Native groups into a potpourri generic depiction; if an in-story explanation is wanted, it might be that the fliers wee all from different tribes, and for uniformity's sake chose to use a generic look that their enemies, the Japanese, would recognise and come to fear.

   In Contact Comics#1-3 the Tomahawk Squadron were depicted as wearing headdresses only when in going on missions, and otherwise wearing normal USAF uniforms. However, in #3 Tommy's best friend Red Wing was shot down and captured by the Japanese. Upon learning from an escaped POW that Red Wing is being slowly tortured to death an enraged Tommy heads off in full Native garb, complete with war paint, to rescue him. Though his fellow fliers query this choice when he returns, his tale of cutting through the Japanese to rescue Red Wing seemingly inspired them, as in the next issue ALL of the squad are in full Native costume (and I mean costume, rather than accurate Native outfits), whether on a mission or not; the comic makes it clear that their superiors objected to this, but the squadron insisted it made them more ferocious in battle, and their request to continue to do so is officially granted at the end of #4. Thankfully, despite this permission, the group rarely took advantage of the option.

Appearance checklist (not including reprints): Contact Comics#1-11

CLARIFICATIONS:
Tommy Tomahawk should not be confused with:

First Posted: 21/05/2023
Last updated: 21/05/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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