Tuskegee Airmen

Black History Month occurs in the month of February in the U.S as well as Canada. During this time, there are various activities, as well as celebration of African Americans who have made contributions to society. Many of us recognize names such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Malcolm X, Colin Powell, and of course, Rosa Parks, to name only a few among many. It was not only individuals who have made contributions to our society, but groups as well.

One of the battles for African Americans has been Civil Rights. Many of us think of the Civil Rights Movement being affiliate with those such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and many others during the 60's. History tells us that the movement dates from 1955-1958 in the United States, while others date this movement back as far as the 1800's due to slavery.

Even in the military, segregation occurred until Harry S. Truman ended this practice on July 26, 1948 by the way of Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in the military. During World War II, the higher ups believed that African-American men were not suitable for combat duty, and certainly were prohibited from being airmen. Due to the anticipated need for additional flyers, and political pressure; in the year 1940 the Selective Training and Service Act banned racial discrimination in conscription, clearing the way for blacks to be trained for Air Corps service.

Regardless of the time line, we are familiar with the various types of discrimination throughout American History that affected the African-American. One such historical moment, involving not only discrimination, but a group of men, part of what was called the Tuskegee Experiment, that is seldom heard about, in spite of their contribution during World War II.

The only place where these non-white airmen could be trained, was in Tuskegee, Alabama. The Tuskegee Institute, a black college founded by Booker T. Washington, in Alabama, in the year 1881, participated in the Roosevelt experimental, administration's pilot training program. In May 1940, the first civilian licensed pilots, numbering 43, graduated from Tuskegee, the only source for trained black military pilots during World War II. These brave men, were members of a group that is known as “The Tuskegee Airmen” Their sole mission was to escort bomber pilots in P-51 Mustangs which were not near the speed of the Germans, yet they managed outmaneuver the Germans, and shoot down 3 German planes in one day. The Tuskegee experiment did not stop with these pilots who had to fly old aircraft that had been used and discarded by the military deemed no longer fit to use by their counterparts, the white pilots.

In 1944, the Bombardment group was formed. The Tuskegee training advanced to training these men and women as bombers, who would be integrated as crew members for bomber groups. There was a total of 15,000 men and women who graduated from the Tuskegee Experiment.

The Tuskegee Airmen became one of the most respected fighter groups in the history of World War II.

In spite of the discrimination prior to and while fighting during World War II, those who were part of the Tuskegee Airman managed to do the impossible and their record, with over 200 combat missions under their belt, proves it. The Tuskegee Airmen did not lose one single bomber to enemy fire in over 200 combat missions, which has never been matched by any other fighter group of any race.

Throughout the years, reunification between the Tuskegee Airmen and white pilots have occurred. The pilots who once fought against these airmen being part of their military, has since then given praise, admitting if it were not for the these airmen, many of them would never have come home from World War II.

This group of men and women, nor their valor was recognized by the U.S. government until March 2007, when the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal.

In 2012, an excellent movie, “Redtails” produced by Lucusfilm and released by 20^th Century Fox, hit the movie theaters, which is a realistic, fictional story about the Tuskegee Airmen.

It has been reported, that the oldest living Tuskegee Airman, by the name of Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles I. Williams of Dayton, at the age of 92 was the first in line to purchase a ticket.