Ferrier H. White was born 1921 in Elyria, Ohio to Henry and Fosterina White. Ferrier was one of three children.
Ferrier moved around quite a bit finding jobs as a mechanic and repairman. He lived for a time with his aunt, Alice Kyle in Coatesville.
Ferrier enlisted in the Army Air Forces on January 29, 1942. Ferrier received pilot training at Tuskegee, Alabama, where African-American pilots were trained. These pilots later became known as the "
Tuskegee Airmen". Ferrier received his wings and commission as a Second Lieutenant upon graduating from Tuskegee flight school on October 16, 1944 with class 44-I-1-SE.
The 332nd was the first all African-American Fighter Group. The 332nd Fighter Group consisted of the 99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons. The Group escorted bombers, losing very few to enemy fighters.