Who were the Tuskegee airmen?
The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military airmen. They came from every section of the country, with large numbers coming from New York, Washington, Los Angles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit.
In June 1941, the Tuskegee program officially began with formation of the 99th Fighter Squadron at the Tuskegee Institute. The unit consisted of an entire service arm, including ground crew, and not just pilots. After basic training at Moton Field, they were moved to the nearby Tuskegee Army Air Field.
The program officially began in the spring of 1941 with the activation of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, later re-designated the 99th Fighter Squadron. Pilot training was conducted at the Tuskegee Army Airfield, which was built near the campus.
Many of the aviation cadets at Tuskegee had attended college or had some flight experience, but the training was a challenge. Only five out of first class of 13 cadets earned their wings. Ultimately, 996 pilots graduated and 445 entered combat as fighter pilots. A medium bomber unit, the 477th Bombardment Group, was comprised of African-American pilots as well as air and ground crew members, but the war ended before it completed training.
The 99th Pursuit Squadron shipped out of Tuskegee in April 1943 and fought in the North Africa and Sicily campaigns before it was absorbed by the 332nd Fighter Group, also comprised of Tuskegee Airmen. The group was commanded by Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., one of the first officers to earn his pilot's wings at Tuskegee and later the U.S. Air Force's first African-American general.
The 332nd Fighter Group, based near Termoli, Italy, flew ground-support missions in North Africa, Sicily and Italy before being assigned to heavy bomber escort duty with the 15th Air Force.
Identified by the distinctive red paint scheme on the tail of their P-51 Mustangs, the pilots of the 332nd earned the nickname "Red Tails." Flying more than 15,000 combat sorties in more than 1,500 missions over Europe, the group lost only 26 of the bombers it escorted.
The Tuskegee Airmen earned more than 850 medals, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest award that can be earned by a military unit. Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen were killed in action and 32 were captured as prisoners of war.
In 2007, the surviving Tuskegee Airmen were presented Congressional Gold Medals, the highest honor the U.S. Congress can bestow on a civilian, in recognition of their distinguished service.
In June 1941, the Tuskegee program officially began with formation of the 99th Fighter Squadron at the Tuskegee Institute. The unit consisted of an entire service arm, including ground crew, and not just pilots. After basic training at Moton Field, they were moved to the nearby Tuskegee Army Air Field.
The program officially began in the spring of 1941 with the activation of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, later re-designated the 99th Fighter Squadron. Pilot training was conducted at the Tuskegee Army Airfield, which was built near the campus.
Many of the aviation cadets at Tuskegee had attended college or had some flight experience, but the training was a challenge. Only five out of first class of 13 cadets earned their wings. Ultimately, 996 pilots graduated and 445 entered combat as fighter pilots. A medium bomber unit, the 477th Bombardment Group, was comprised of African-American pilots as well as air and ground crew members, but the war ended before it completed training.
The 99th Pursuit Squadron shipped out of Tuskegee in April 1943 and fought in the North Africa and Sicily campaigns before it was absorbed by the 332nd Fighter Group, also comprised of Tuskegee Airmen. The group was commanded by Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., one of the first officers to earn his pilot's wings at Tuskegee and later the U.S. Air Force's first African-American general.
The 332nd Fighter Group, based near Termoli, Italy, flew ground-support missions in North Africa, Sicily and Italy before being assigned to heavy bomber escort duty with the 15th Air Force.
Identified by the distinctive red paint scheme on the tail of their P-51 Mustangs, the pilots of the 332nd earned the nickname "Red Tails." Flying more than 15,000 combat sorties in more than 1,500 missions over Europe, the group lost only 26 of the bombers it escorted.
The Tuskegee Airmen earned more than 850 medals, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest award that can be earned by a military unit. Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen were killed in action and 32 were captured as prisoners of war.
In 2007, the surviving Tuskegee Airmen were presented Congressional Gold Medals, the highest honor the U.S. Congress can bestow on a civilian, in recognition of their distinguished service.