As a Veteran, you understand better than anyone the courage, skill and dedication it takes to serve in the military. Today, we’re turning the spotlight on a group of servicemen who not only displayed these same qualities in abundance, but also broke barriers and paved the way for future generations. They are the Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the “Red Tails” of the 332nd Fighter Group.
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of volunteer African American military pilots (fighters and bombers) who fought in World War II and formed the 332nd Fighter and 477th Bombardment Groups of the United States Army Air Forces. This name also applies to navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel.
To win a third term for President in 1940, President Roosevelt pursued Black voters by promising to create Black flying units in the military. Roosevelt did secure a third term—and African Americans won the right to fly, however, they served in a single and segregated unit from their white counterparts.
On March 22, 1941, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, comprised of 33 pilots, was created. Lieutenant Colonel William H. Holloman, III, who expressed, “I really didn’t care whether it was a segregated unit or non-segregated. I wanted to fly. And I would do anything to get the opportunity to fly.” This quote encapsulates the spirit and determination of these brave men who fought not just the enemy abroad but also the enemy of racial discrimination at home. Lt. Col. George Hardy declared, “You can’t turn your back on your own country, so we’re as patriotic as anybody else. And so we wanted our chance to prove that we could do something.”
From 1941 – 1946, over 1,000 airmen graduated from Tuskegee, flew 1,578 missions and 15,533 sorties. These brave men destroyed 250 enemy aircraft on the ground, and 150 in the air. The Red Tails have the lowest loss record of all fighter escort groups, were in constant demand from allied bomber units, and hold a record that is unmatched by any other fighter unit.
The Tuskegee Airmen’s contributions to the war effort paved the way for the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948 with Executive Order 9981. Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington was on record that “Blacks should be able to enter the Air Force on the basis of their merits and abilities rather than their race.” Lt. Col. William H. Holloman, III, said, “We helped Black people raise their heads and say, ‘I can do it. I can go anywhere I want to go.'” As Veterans, we understand the weight and significance of these words. The Tuskegee Airmen’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination, values every service member and Veteran can relate to.
In April 2006, the U.S. Congress voted to award the Tuskegee Airmen a Congressional Gold Medal, the most prestigious award Congress can give to civilians. The award was presented to the surviving Tuskegee Airmen on March 29, 2007, at a ceremony in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol “in recognition of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.”
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I WAS SURPRISED TO KNOW DURING SOME YEARS AGO WORKING @ A POSTAL FACILITY; I LEARNED THRU 1 OF MY POSTAL CUSTOMERS THAT 1 OF THE LAST OF THE TRUE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN OFTEN VISITED THE POST OFFICE I WORKED ; THE CUSTOMER AND I FREQUENTLY TALKED & GREETED EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME,SAID THE NEXT TIME THE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN COME THRU HE WOULD LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME;SO THAT DAY CAME & I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE AIRMAN & I ALSO BROUGHT TO WORK WITH ME 2 G I TUSKEGEE AIRMAN & OFFICER MEMORABILIAS THAT I BOUGHT FOR MY BOYS 35 OR SO YEARS AGO,THE AIRMAN WAS ECSTATIC THAT I HAD THOSE & SIGNED THEM (DOTA)DOCUMENTED ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMAN AND WE TOKE A FEW PHOTOS WITH THE GI JOE TUSKEGEE AIRMAN/OFFICER TOY MEMORABILIA;WHICH OUT OF THE 37 YEARS WORKING @ THE POST OFFICE WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER
The movie “Red Tails” was a bitter disappointment. Rather than extolling the accomplishments in Combat, the movie focused on a romance between an Airman and an Italian woman. Earlier documentary films more accurately viewed the Airmen’s military contributions. There is a Tuskegee Airman highway in San Diego as part or the I-15.
They definitely paved the way for me to serve and retire from the Army. Selfless service should always be commended! Not lies and separation!!!????
In 1965 I was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, as an Instrument Training Specialist. One of the Specialists in my shop was SSGT McGee. I was curious why he wore pilots wings as an enlisted man. He told me he had been RIFed (reducion in force). As a career man he accepted the reduction from Captain to Sgt. I never knew his story beyond that. Later I learned from our Survival aschool MSGT that SGT McGee was a Tuskeegee Airman.
A great number of officers were RIFed until the Vietnam war. We had a Major as an E-5 at Ft Eustis. There was a RIFed Colonel who couldn’t take it and became a roaring drunk, disrupting the barracks all night. I left for Ft Ord so don’t know what became of him, and if he didn’t die from alcoholism.
I got to sit with one of them at the dedication of the Medal of Honor memorial in Seattle at the University of Washington some years ago. Just that brief time was very special to me. I wish I could recall his name.
If anyone happens to know who he was please inform me. Thank you.
I believe the Tuskegee Airmen had the highest number of ME 262s shot down in air-to-air combat.
They was the best
Congratulations to them all .they our Hero always and will be
They are the best
Love the articles, very informative !!
They were some of the best pilots because the entrance requirements and training were significantly demanding.
as a aur force veteran i salute the tuskegee airmen
i served 6 years active 9 years air guard. 2 years in the uk and 1 year in vietnam. gid bless.
As an Air Force veteran, I really appreciated this story. I served on active duty from 1954 – 1958. Reserve from 1958 – 1962
I served during the cold war in Europe with (SAC) Strategic Air Command & we had aircraft in the Air in Europe 24 Hrs a
day being refueled by KC-97 Tanker Aircraft.