Tuskegee Airmen
A Brief History
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Under the command of then, Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, 450 Black Fighter Pilots fought in the aerial war over North Africa, Sicily and Europe, flying in succession,P-40, P-39, P-47 and P-51 type aircraft. The gallant men flew 15,553 Sorties and completed 1,578 missions with the 12th Tactical and 15th U.S. Army Air Force. The 15th U.S. Army Air Force's first black general rose to the rank of Lt. General. Due to a rigid pattern of racial segregation that prevailed in the United States during World War II, approximately 992 aviators were trained at the Tuskegee Institute and also at an isolated training complex near Tuskegee Alabama.
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They were called the "Schwartze Vogelmenshen" (Black Birdmen) by the Germans who both feared and respected them. White American bomber crews reverently referred to them as "The Black Redtail Angels" because of the identifying red paint on the aircraft tail assemblies and because of their reputation for not losing bombers to enemy fighters as they provided fighter escort on bombing missions over targets in Europe.
The 99th Fighter Squadron, which had already distinguished itself over North Africa, Sicily and Anzio, joined three other Black Squadrons; the 100th, 301st, and the 302nd. These squadrons, designated as the 332nd Fighter Group, comprised the largest fighter unit in the 15th Air Force. From Italian bases they destroyed enemy rail traffic, hundreds of vehicles on air-to-ground strafing missions, and coast watching surveillance stations. Sixty-six pilots were killed in aerial combat while another 32 were either forced down or shot down and captured to become Prisoners of War.
These courageous airmen came home with 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Legions of Merit and the Red Star of Yugoslavia.
The 477th Composite Group (P-47 Fighters and B-25 Bombers) was formed by 332nd Fighter Group returnees and other black pilots, navigators, bombardiers and crewmen trained for bomber duty. The group never entered combat because of the surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945.
The 477th's demands for parity and recognition as competent military professionals
resulting from the wartime records of the 99th and 332nd led to review of the U.S.
War Departments' racial policies.
For every black pilot, there were 10 other civilian or military black men and women on ground support duty. Many of these men and women remained in military service during the post-World War II era and spearheaded the integration of the armed forces in the United States with their integration into the U.S. Air Force in 1949.
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That the "Tuskegee Experiment" achieved unqualified success rather than the expected failure is further recorded by the elevation of one of the first pioneers to the rank of General; the late General Daniel "Chappie" James, our nation's first Black Four-Star General, Lt. General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., USAF Retired; and Major General Lucius Theus, USAF, Retired. Three Tuskegee Airmen, all retired USAF Colonels, Charles Cooper, Hannibal Cox, and Charles McGee, share the distinction of having flown combat missions as fighter pilots in WWII, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam. Tuskegee Airmen John "Mr. Death" Whitehead; Bill Holloman, and George Hardy flew combat missions in Vietnam as crewmembers in other aircraft. All retired as Lt. Colonels, USAF. Major achievements to enhance and enrich our heritage are attributed to many Tuskegee Airmen who supported the aircrews as maintenance, supply, personnel and other ground support duties who returned to civilian life and earned positions of leadership and respect as businessmen and women.
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In 1972, the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., was founded in Detroit, Michigan. Organized as a non-military and non-profit entity, the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., exists primarily to motivate young Americans to become participants in our nation's society and its democratic process. Today the Tuskegee Airmen have four memorials in place to perpetuate the memory of who they were, why they were, and what was accomplished during and after the adverse conditions to which they were subjected. They have the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., National Scholarship Fund for high school seniors who excel in math and science, but who need financial assistance to begin a college program in math, science or engineering.
They have a monument in the Memorial Park at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson, AFB, Ohio. There is also a museum in Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit, Michigan; and a Tuskegee Airman statue in the Honor Park of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The monument and statue have been bestowed and entrusted to the Air Force for everlasting care.
With a growing number of chapters located in major cities throughout the United States, Europe and Japan, the membership of the Tuskegee Airmen is open to all. It is made up of veterans of the armed forces, active duty personnel representing all branches of the military, and also includes a growing number of civilians who demonstrate sincere interest in helping the organization achieve its goals and objectives. All officers and directors of the organization serve without salary or pay.
SUMMARY OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
After more than fifty years, the history of the Tuskegee Airmen is still quite obscure. The name refers to the young Black pilots who received flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama during and shortly after World War II. The Tuskegee Army Air Field was the only training facility for Basic and Advanced Flight Training for Blackpilots of the U.S. Army Air Force.
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From the first graduating class on 7 March 1942, through the last class which graduated 29 June 1946, a total of 926 pilots earned their wings. Of these graduates, approximately 450 pilots went overseas to fly P-39, P-40, P-47 and P-51 fighter aircraft in combat. During World War II, 66 pilots were killed in action and another 32 became prisoners of war.
During the war the Tuskegee Airmen faced the contradiction between fighting for democracy overseas and being denied civil rights at home. These pilots made their advances during one of the most difficult times for Blacks in our nation's history. Their hard work, common sense and devotion to America and to the idea that it stands for freedom for all continues today. There are Tuskegee Airmen Chapters all over the United States and a national scholarship foundation for deserving young Americans. They have also established a mobile exhibit which travels throughout the United States to bring to life the Tuskegee story and enlighten all Americans to their hard-earned and honored place in history.
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