The Tuskegee Airmen

African Americans have participated in every American military conflict since the first shot of the Revolutionary War was fired (read about Crispus Attucks by clicking here).  In modern times, continuing until the 1940s, the military establishment enforced a long-entrenched practice of segregation, which relegated African Americans to menial and less desirable work within the armed forces.   

In 1939, under pressure from the Black media and various organizations, Congress signed a bill authorizing the creation of a training institute for African Americans who wished to become fighter pilots.  It was opened in 1941 and was based in Tuskegee, Alabama.   Training was conducted at the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) and at the Tuskegee Army Air Field.  More than 900 military aviators were trained there during World War II; 450 of these original “Tuskegee Airmen” were deployed as fighter pilots over Europe and North Africa, flying P-39, P-40, P-47 and P-51 type aircraft.  Their commander was Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., who went on to become the Air Force’s first African American General.   

Because of segregation, the Tuskegee Airmen were assigned to squadrons consisting of Black airmen only. Their earlier missions consisted mainly of escorting bombers, and they frequently encountered criticism from their White counterparts as well as officers and the military establishment, as there were many who did not wish to see African Americans in such a skilled and important role.   

As the aerial war heated up, however the African American squadrons (the 99^th, the 100^th, the 301^st, and 302^nd, designated as the 332^nd fighter group, which was based in Italy) were sent on more challenging missions.  They wanted to prove that they could be the best.  Their list of successful missions grew, as did respect for their courage and tactical skills; German fighter pilots nicknamed them the “Schwarze Vogelsmenschen” (Black Birdmen).  By the end of World War II, the African American fighter pilots had flown over 15,000 sorties, downed over 1000 German aircraft, and earned hundreds of medals including 150 distinguished Flying Crosses.  Sixty-six of the Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives serving their country, and thirty-two spent time as prisoners of war.   

In 1943 the training at the Tuskegee Institute was expanded to train Black airmen as bomber pilots and crew, but Germany and Japan surrendered before their training was completed, and the Tuskegee bomber pilots never saw combat.   

After World War II, the government commissioned a study to examine whether the policy of segregation in the armed forces was one which they really wished to continue.   The unequivocal success story of the Tuskegee Airmen was a pivotal arguing point that led to the decision to desegregate, allowing the military to begin working to provide fair opportunities to all soldiers regardless of race.    

The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., was founded in 1972 as a non-profit group made up mostly of veterans of the armed forces, who encourage youth to participate in the democratic processes of this country.  The organization provides scholarships to students interested in studying mathematics, science, and engineering.  They also tour the country with exhibits depicting the story of the original Tuskegee Airmen, to keep the memory of their groundbreaking accomplishments alive.  []
10/29/01