essay on tuskegee airmen

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Tuskegee Airmen

By: History.com Editors

Updated: January 26, 2021 | Original: November 9, 2009

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps (AAC), a precursor of the U.S. Air Force. Trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, they flew more than 15,000 individual sorties in Europe and North Africa during World War II. Their impressive performance earned them more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and helped encourage the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces.

Segregation in the Armed Forces

During the 1920s and ‘30s, the exploits of record-setting pilots like Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart had captivated the nation, and thousands of young men and women clamored to follow in their footsteps.

But young African Americans who aspired to become pilots met with significant obstacles, starting with the widespread (racist) belief that Black people could not learn to fly or operate sophisticated aircraft.

In 1938, with Europe teetering on the brink of another great war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced he would expand the civilian pilot training program in the United States.

At the time, racial segregation remained the rule in the U.S. armed forces—as well as much of the country. Much of the military establishment (particularly in the South) believed Black soldiers were inferior to whites, and performed relatively poorly in combat.

But as the AAC began ramping up its training program, Black newspapers like the Chicago Defender and Pittsburgh Courier joined civil rights groups like the NAACP in arguing that Black Americans be included.

Tuskegee Experiment

In September 1940, Roosevelt’s White House responded to such lobbying campaigns by announcing that the AAC would soon begin training Black pilots.

For the training site, the War Department chose the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama , then under construction. Home to the prestigious Tuskegee Institute, founded by Booker T. Washington , it was located in the heart of the Jim Crow South.

The program’s trainees, nearly all of them college graduates or undergraduates, came from all over the country. In addition to some 1,000 pilots, the Tuskegee program trained nearly 14,000 navigators, bombardiers, instructors, aircraft and engine mechanics, control tower operators and other maintenance and support staff.

Benjamin O. Davis Jr.

Among the 13 members of the first class of aviation cadets in 1941 was Benjamin O. Davis Jr., a graduate of West Point and the son of Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, one of two Black officers (other than chaplains) in the entire U.S. military.

The “Tuskegee Experiment” took a great leap forward in April 1941 thanks to a visit by Eleanor Roosevelt to the airfield. Charles “Chief” Anderson, then the chief flight instructor in the program, took the first lady on an aerial tour, and photos and film of that flight helped publicize the program.

Tuskegee Airmen in World War II

In April 1943, the Tuskegee-trained 99th Pursuit Squadron deployed to North Africa, which the Allies had occupied.

In North Africa and then Sicily, they flew missions in second-hand P-40 planes, which were slower and more difficult to maneuver than their German counterparts. After the commander of the 99th’s assigned fighter group complained about the squadron’s performance, Davis had to defend his men before a War Department committee.

Rather than being shipped home, the 99th was moved to Italy, where they served alongside the white pilots of the 79th Fighter Group. In early 1944, pilots from the 99th shot down 12 German fighters in two days, going some distance toward proving themselves in combat.

In February 1944, the 100th, 301st and 302nd fighter squadrons arrived in Italy; together with the 99th, these squadrons of Black pilots and other personnel made up the new 332nd Fighter Group.

After this transfer, the pilots of the 332nd began flying P-51 Mustangs to escort the heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force during raids deep into enemy territory. The tails of their planes were painted red for identification purposes, earning them the enduring nickname “Red Tails.”

Though these were the best-known of the Tuskegee Airmen, Black aviators also served on bomber crews in the 477th Bombardment Group, formed in 1944.

A popular myth arose during the war—and persisted afterwards—that in more than 200 escort missions, the Tuskegee Airmen had never lost a bomber. The truth wasn’t uncovered until years later, when a detailed analysis found that enemy aircraft shot down at least 25 bombers they escorted.

Nonetheless, that was a much better success rate than other escort groups of the 15th Air Force, which lost an average of 46 bombers.

Tuskegee Airmen Legacy

By the time the 332nd flew its last combat mission on April 26, 1945, two weeks before the German surrender, the Tuskegee Airmen had flown more than 15,000 individual sorties over two years in combat.

They had destroyed or damaged 36 German planes in the air and 237 on the ground, as well as nearly 1,000 rail cars and transport vehicles and a German destroyer. In all, 66 Tuskegee-trained aviators were killed in action during World War II , while another 32 were captured as POWs after being shot down.

Armed Forces Integrated

After their brave service, the Tuskegee Airmen returned home to a country where they continued to face systematic racism and prejudice.

But they did represent an important step forward in preparing the nation for the racial integration of the military, which began with President Harry Truman who issued Executive Order 9981 desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces and mandating equality of opportunity and treatment on July 26, 1948.

A number of the original Tuskegee Airmen would go on to longer careers in the military, including Davis, who would become the first Black general in the new U.S. Air Force; George S. “Spanky” Roberts, who became the first Black commander of a racially integrated Air Force unit before retiring as a colonel; and Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., who would become the nation’s first Black four-star general in 1975.

More than 300 of the original Tuskegee Airmen were on hand to receive the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush in 2007.

Two years later, the surviving Tuskegee-trained pilots and support crew were invited to attend the inauguration of the nation’s first African American president, Barack Obama , who once wrote that his “career in public service was made possible by the path heroes like the Tuskegee Airmen trail-blazed.”

HISTORY Vault: Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage

Robin Roberts explores the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the legendary group of African American pilots—including her father—that served in WWII and helped pave the way for the civil rights movement.

Todd Moye, Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II ( New York : Oxford University Press, 2010). Who Were They? Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum . Daniel Haulman, “Nine Myths About the Tuskegee Airmen,” Tuskegee.edu . Katherine Q. Seelye, “Inauguration is a Culmination for Black Airmen, New York Times , December 9, 2008.

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Alumni news essay: remembering tuskegee airman gen. charles mcgee.

When I was a high school senior almost 40 years ago, the English teacher assigned us to choose a hero, read a book, and write an essay explaining why. I chose Jackie Robinson for reasons I don’t remember exactly and didn’t understand deeply. I recognized that was an atypical choice for a Jewish girl growing up in predominantly white suburban New Jersey, but preferred reading sports books since my elementary school days. Perhaps it was related to my experience as an 8-year-old breaking the gender-barrier to play in the local baseball and basketball leagues, along with my older sister, when the new Title IX law made that possible. Perhaps it was related to my friendship through pick-up basketball with a Black family in my hometown from nearby Newark — where my parents were married, my father went to college, my paternal relatives are buried, and my paternal cousins grew up and participated actively in the Civil Rights Movement. Perhaps it was my budding Jewish identity and social justice values, knowing family friends who were Holocaust survivors.

Three years ago I went to an education festival at the National Air and Space Museum near my house in multicultural suburban Virginia, even though I have no particular interest in aviation. I noticed an elderly gentleman sitting alone at a bookselling/signing table with his biography, along with a pencil and paper to keep track of sales. Then I saw a sign identifying him and paused in amazement, as if I had seen the burning bush: Tuskegee Airman, born Dec. 7, 1919. I walked over and said casually, “I see you’re gonna have a big birthday next year.” He smiled gently and replied humbly, “God willing and if the creek don’t rise.” Charles McGee had a very big 100th birthday indeed — which included a belated promotion to general, a moment of national honor at the State of the Union, another such moment at the Super Bowl coin toss, and piloting a plane — as he had done when he turned 99, and as he had done 409 times as a fighter pilot in Europe during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

That’s how I made acquaintance with my new hero, to add to a handful of Holocaust survivors I knew, who rebuilt rich lives in America and contributed their stories, values, and energies to serve the Jewish community and others. He opened my eyes to see American history through a longer and finer lens of social progress at a personal level. During the years of serving in an experimental segregated unit in WWII, shortly before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball, the Tuskegee Airmen disproved the myth of racial inferiority and defended both American and Jewish lives. In so doing they built the strongest case for the subsequent integration of the military and amplified the moral imperative to deliver on the promise of equality across society.

Regretfully, I hesitated and didn’t buy his book that day. However, I Googled him soon afterward and started to learn his story, and grew to understand and admire the incredible feats of the Tuskegee Airmen as pioneers. Thankfully, I didn’t hesitate when his inspiration gave me the idea to invite him as the special guest of honor for a Black History Month speaker event that I led at work last year. Amazingly, he accepted my invitation and joined via Zoom together with his daughters, and honored us all with his presence. Belatedly, I did read and relish his biography, written by Charlene McGee Smith — his eldest daughter and namesake — who spoke beautifully on his behalf.

Why did he choose to come for my modest occasion? After a highly decorated 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force, he never retired and continued to serve our country as a founder, leader, and ambassador of the Tuskegee Airmen’s national association. He believed deeply in the bedrock values of education and equal opportunity, and enjoyed making his priceless contributions to encourage the next generations.

I know he also came to listen to the guest speaker: Joylette Goble Hylick, eldest daughter of Katherine Johnson — the  Hidden Figures  hero and NASA research mathematician, who died one year prior at the age of 101 after a brilliantly well-lived life. I never met Mrs. Johnson but feel as if I did from reading her memoir, watching interviews, visiting museum exhibits near her homes in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and Hampton, Virginia, and interacting with Joylette to share her mother’s uplifting legacy with others.

Charlene spoke honestly and compellingly about the current racial reckoning, saying: “You have to know Mrs. Johnson’s story, and you have to know Gen. McGee’s story. You have to understand there is greatness in the history of African Americans in this country.” In response, I could only say: Amen.

The memorial tributes to Gen. McGee have been tremendous, including heartfelt Twitter messages by the secretary of defense Lloyd Austin and the chief of the U.S. Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, both African American. Vice President Kamala Harris did likewise and attached the video of her call for his 102nd birthday, saying: “I can’t thank you enough, and on behalf of the president and myself and our nation, I just want to thank you for all that you have done, and you know, telling your story is about telling the story of our nation.”

I am but an ordinary citizen with a wee small voice, who plays a barely-speaking bit part, as one of the many among We the People, who have been trying for centuries to form a more perfect union. Soon after the event, Charlene sent the nicest thank-you note I will ever receive, affirming her belief that such humanizing encounters matter. Gen. McGee and his younger daughter Yvonne called me kindly as well. (I remember telling him that I woke up early that morning feeling my nerves, and calmed down a bit when I thought of him, since no one was shooting at me.) I continue to play my bit part in my corner of the country, and try to follow in Gen. McGee’s and Mrs. Johnson’s giant footsteps in very small but meaningful ways. They taught and encouraged me to “pay it forward” for racial justice, by using their epic stories and my own educational privilege to reach out and teach others.

I knew to invite Gen. McGee because I perceived intuitively that he was like Ann, who never retired from telling her story to young generations. On display near her kitchen table was an oversized photo of the Jewish high school class that invited her to speak. Together with her son and primary caregiver Jay, she looked beautiful and vibrant in her late 80s, even as she lived with pancreatic cancer.

We are all part of each other’s stories in The American Story. May we choose our heroes wisely, and be so incredibly fortunate and blessed to know them.

Epilogue: B’Zchut (On the Merit)

Joylette texted me a few minutes after the Black History Month event saying, “Great program.” (Wow, coming from Mrs. Johnson’s daughter, that means something.) I texted back that her words were soulful. The most heart-warming moment, in my eyes, was her response when I asked during the Q&A what the Tuskegee Airmen mean to her, as a member of her fine family:

“Those men were on a mission, they did their job, and we got the best of the best… The fact (is) that during World War II they had to beg to be involved… I just adore them. Every time I see something about them, I’m so happy. I was with Mom when she was honored with one of them a few years ago in Virginia. So, my hat’s off to Gen. McGee, and I’m so happy to share the day with him.”

That expressed my sentiments exactly. Listening to the event recording a year later, a few days after attending the public viewing in Washington, D.C., and watching the memorial service at his church via livestream, I sat back and tried to imagine how it felt for him to hear that genuine gift of words, as he sat at home with his daughters listening silently. Connecting their families with Joylette’s voice was the best expression of gratitude I could give him. Yvonne sent me a sweet email that I still treasure: “Thank you for saluting Dad. He was able to listen and really enjoyed, just sorry he wasn’t up to being on camera (still in PJs) or answering questions.” Together we fulfilled the fourth commandment of  lich’vod horim  — honoring parents. I like the image that he was able to come comfortably, without his formal uniform and impressive medals, and enjoy a  heimish  style of celebration.

It was a sacred moment, beyond words, when I saw him for the last time. After giving my condolences and hugs to Charlene and Ron, his son, I paused beside his casket and turned to him  panim-el-panim  — face-to-face. I looked at his endearing gentlemanly face and distinctive features, with eyes closed and lips sealed. I looked at his hands holding a folded American flag, and his chest wearing the distinguished traditional red jacket of the Tuskegee Airmen as proud Red Tails. I felt the silence of his presence — after all the historic sights he saw, kind words he spoke, and acts of bravery and human decency he did in his tremendously full lifetime of giving. The echo of his voice and his  dugma ishit  — personal example — are inside me now to give back. The seemingly mystical seeds of inspiration that he sprinkled toward me at that first encounter three years ago have since grown into blooms with roots.

I told Charlene and Ron that their Dad reminded me of another general, Yitzchak Rabin, whose public viewing I attended after his tragic assassination in 1995, when I was living and working in Jerusalem on Israeli-Palestinian cooperation projects. What I have begun to do to contribute to the racial reckoning  b’govah eynayim  — at eye-level (literally, the height of eyes, implying a sense of equality) — I do because of Gen. McGee. I do it  b’zchuto  — literally, on his merit, better translated as thanks to the privilege of knowing what I know because of him.

Debby Greenberg ’87 has worked in software consulting for federal/state/local governments, and learned how to lead her first Black History Month event by working in Jerusalem on Israeli-Palestinian cooperation projects. She lives in a diverse and inclusive community in Herndon, Virginia.

Tuskegee Airmen Collections

Located in: Special Collections & University Archives

Tuskegee Airmen were the men and women (African-Americans and others) involved in the Tuskegee Experience, the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft during World War II. The 992 pilots who graduated from the Tuskegee airfield courses advanced race relations through their integration in the U.S. Army Air Force and compiled a combat record still unsurpassed in military history. After their military careers, many of the Tuskegee Airmen continued professional civilian careers that help to establish an African American middle class during the mid-twentieth century.

The goal of the Tuskegee Airmen Collections is to identify, collect and preserve their history, calling special attention to their distinguished military service and to document their monumental contributions to economic development, race relations, politics, business, medicine, education, and many other fields following their service. Sharing the collection through education programs, courses and exhibits is another important goal. The Tuskegee Airmen Collections comprise personal papers of Tuskegee Airmen, papers of Tuskegee Airmen memorial organizations, photographs, books, artifacts, and research materials compiled by scholars and independent researchers.

These collections are rich in the subjects they cover and can support research in several key areas including Civil Rights, African American women in WWII, African American participation in WWII, U.S. military integration, the African American middle class and WWII military air power, among others. These collections are important for understanding the rise of the African American middle class in California and especially in Southern California, where the private sector military industry and military bases employed many former Tuskegee Airmen.

Highlights include the papers of several prominent Airmen such as Colonel Charles E. McGee, who still holds the record for the most three war combat missions flown, Buford Johnson who became one of the first African American master mechanics in the U.S. Army Air Force, and William A. Campbell, who on June 2, 1943 was among the group of soldiers that served as wingmen to pilots of the 33rd Fighter Group in the first combat mission for 99th pilots in WWII.

The Tuskegee Airmen Collections, formerly known as The Tuskegee Airmen Archive, were stewarded to the UCR Library in 2005 by Dr. Ruth M. Jackson and Col. Ralph W. Smith. The library continues to add materials to the collection.

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Tuskegee Airman Essay Contest

Calling all students 4th through 12th grade! Submit your essay for the CAF Red Tail Squadron’s annual contest saluting the Tuskegee Airmen! Deadline is March 15, 2021.

Using the Six Guiding Principles (Aim High, Believe in Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready to Go, Never Quit, Expect to Win) describe how the Tuskegee Airmen achieved success, or choose a goal for yourself and show how you could use the Six Guiding Principles to achieve that goal.

Entries will be judged on overall content, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Each entry must be an original composition written by the student.

The Essay Contest is open to students in the 4th – 12th grade in an accredited school or home school program during the academic year.

Entries must adhere to the following word count guidelines:

4th – 5th grades 250 words 6th – 8th grades 350 words 9th – 12th grades 500 words Footnotes, citations, endnotes, and essay titles will not be counted as part of the word count allotment.

Entries must be typed. Each page of the essay must include the author’s name, name of school or home school program, address and telephone number in the upper right hand corner of each page. This information will not be counted as part of the word count allotment.

Entries become property of the CAF Red Tail Squadron and will not be returned.

Winners will be requested to send their photograph to be featured along with their essay on the CAF Red Tail Squadron website and newsletter.

Entries must be emailed prior to 5:00pm on or before March 15, 2021. Email your entry to: [email protected]

Essay contest winners will be announced on March 30, 2021.

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each grade category as follows:

1st place: An autographed print of “Tuskegee Tales” 2nd place: A RISE ABOVE hat 3rd place: A 99th Squadron Tuskegee Airmen patch

Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Tuskegee Airmen — Review Of The Film Tuskegee Airmen

Review of The Film Tuskegee Airmen

• Categories: African American History Tuskegee Airmen

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Published: May 14, 2021

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The Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen, the only African – American pilots to fight in World War II. In 1941, The pressure was put on President Franklin D. Roosevelt to take positive actions in the utilization of Negroes in the armed services. On March 7, 1942 the first five Negro cadets were commissioned as pilots of the United State Air Force. While assigned with the 324th squadron, the 99th received its first aerial victory and many more victories were to follow.

The squadron earned the name “The Red Tail Angels,” because of their red painted tail wings and the reputation for staying with all the bombers they escorted, rather than leaving them to chalk up kills for their own personal glory. The Squadron lost its first airmen in a two-plane crash. Shooting down five German planes in one-day, lead to 332nd Fighter Group being awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for successfully escorting bombers and for outstanding and aggressive combat techniques. The Tuskegee airmen made history, a history that will forever and stand out in the annals of the United States.

The famed Tuskegee Airmen are renowned for their valor and courageous actions over the skies of North Africa, Sicily and Western Europe during World War II. The African-American aviators had proved the nation wrong in learning to fly, and were exceptional in World War II. The flight of the Wright Brother in 1903 sparked enthusiasm for aviation, for many black youth all over America. But racial hatred and discrimination was so deeply embedded in America that many young blacks were excluded from the army’s flight instruction program.

They were turned down by the Army Air Force, because there were no established black unit, with any type of flight training, also officials used the excuse that blacks did not appear to be interested in flying, nor did they have the mentality, aptitude, or the reflexes to fly. Therefore, many black men enlisted into the armed services for menial and subservient roles. This type of attitude and apathy on behalf of the federal government and military officials, sparked anger in many black leaders, the press, and white supporters.

The pressure was put on President Franklin D. Roosevelt to take positive actions in the utilization of Negroes in the armed services. On September 27, 1940, President Roosevelt along with the Assistant Secretary of Robert P. Patterson, and Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox met with three black leaders. Phillip A. Randolph, Walter White, and T. Arnold Hill, was to consider the roles of blacks in the armed services. Following the conference, the War Department developed a policy that stated, “All Negroes would be used in proportion to the total population of the armed services” .

It further stated that this “policy was not to intermingle colored and white enlisted personnel in the same organizations” . The War Department stated that “the black leaders supported, had agreed with the policy” . Consequently, black leaders across the nation were outraged. Black leaders issued a statement to the war department that they did not support a segregated unit. They also stated the “Official approval by the commanding Chief of the Army and the Navy of such discrimination and segregation was a stab in the back to democracy” .

President Roosevelt rebutted the statement by the war department which plain for the activation of segregated airfield and a black flying unit was made, which was to be constructed in Tuskegee, Alabama. On March 21, 1941 the 99th pursuit Squadron was activated as an experiment of the war department. The Tuskegee Airmen, were the only African – American pilots to fight in World War II. In 1941, the 99th Fighter Squadron was established in Tuskegee, Alabama to train black pilots for the War effort, military brass expected the “Tuskegee Experiment” Participants to prove themselves unfit for anything but the lowest ranks of military service.

There were also the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons that made up the 332nd Fighter Group. Instead the Tuskegee Airmen flew hundreds of successful missions over Sicily, North Africa and Europe; eventually gaining the respect and admiration of the same officials whom had questioned their ability and doubted their courage. On March 7, 1942, the first five Negroes cadets were commissioned as pilots of the United State Air Force. Captain. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. of Washington, DC who is the son of the Army’s only Negro general, General Benjamin O. Davis Sr. was one of the five.

Some of the others who were commissioned are Charles Debow of Indianapolis, Indiana and Mac Ross of Dayton, Ohio. These five men would become the nuclei of the United States Army Air Corps. The future of Negro youths that might dream of becoming pilots rested upon their shoulders. After graduating the cadets were transferred to the army airfield. Operations began under the command of Major James A. Ellison who was allegedly removed for opposing local civil authorities. He was succeeded by Colonel Frederick V. H. kimble a West Point graduates with 24 years flying experience.

He started the first functioning unit in the Army Air Corps. Colonel Kimble catered to local prejudices and maintained segregation of air training; therefore, Colonel Noel F. Parrish replaced him. Because of his understanding, patience, love for people, and ability to carry out the policy of the war department without arousing much resentment, Colonel Noel F. Parrish was elevated to the position of Commanding Officer of Tuskegee. Colonel Benjamin O. Davis took command of the 99th Squadron on August 24, 1942 and by February 1943 it became apparent that the 99th would be going to combat.

Colonel Davis who was one of first five cadets to graduate, now in command, expressed confidence in the ability of the squadron to be victorious in combat. Throughout the month of March, the squadron went through intensive and rigorous training. Not just in aerial combat, but also in forced marches and air base maintenance procedures. On April 2, 1943 the 99th Squadron departed Tuskegee and headed for Camp Shanks in New York, which was the port of embarkation. Early morning, April 15, the order came to board ship. This came sooner than many had expected.

Approximately 4000 troops, whites and blacks, officers and enlisted men, boarded a ship under the command of Colonel Davis and hoisted anchor” . Eight days later they reached the port of debarkation where Colonel Alison of the Northwest Training command met them. Equipped with 27 brand new P 40’s they went through even more intense training. The 99th was attached to the 33rd Fighter Group, which was stationed at Fardjournal, under the command of Colonel William Monyer. On the morning of June 2, 1943, one of the most important combat missions of the 99th Squadron was about to take place.

The mission was a strafing mission against the heavily fortified Island of Pantelleria. They were to fly as wingmen for pilots of the 33rd Fighter Group. The mission was successful but unexciting. Seven days passed before the group saw any enemy aircraft, on the eight day the Squadron was attacked by the enemy. The Squadron put up a good defense and damaged two German planes. Overall the squadron was instrumental in destroying all enemy resistance on the Island of Pantelleria. This was a first in the history of the Army Air Corps. After the former mission the Squadron moved to El Havuria, which is on the tip of Cape Bon.

They were now operating with the 324th Fighter Group in the battle of Sicily. “The 99th mission was to fly escorts for medium bombers” . While assigned with the 324th squadron the 99th received its first aerial victory and many more victories were to follow. The Squadron earned the name “The Red Tail Angels,” because of their red painted tail wings and the reputation for staying with all the bombers they escorted, rather than leaving them to chalk up kills for their own personal glory. Consequently, they never lost an escorted bomber. On July 10, Lieutenant Richard Bolling was shot down while patrolling.

The Squadron lost its first airmen in a two-plane crash. Overall the Squadron lost over 205 officers and enlisted personnel during World War II. In some of the most historical missions of World War II the 99th was there. On Sept. 10, 1944 four pilots of the 332nd Squadron were presented the Distinguished Flying Cross. ” Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. , Captain Joseph D. Elsberry, Lieutenant Jack Hasclaw, and Lieutenant Clarence Lester” all of which were from the 99th. Lieutenant Colonel Davis was promoted and reassigned later as Commander of the 332nd Squadron.

The 332nd flew missions along with the 306th Fighter Group on June 7th, and so did the 99th, Colonel Davis’ old squadron. The Fighter Group had orders from General Arnold to take offensive actions rather than to provide position defense for friendly bombers. This meant escort pilots could break rank and pursue enemy fighters. With the freedom to pursue the 332nd victories mounted quickly. Shooting down five German planes in one-day lead to 332nd Fighter Group being awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for successfully escorting bombers and for outstanding and aggressive combat techniques.

The 332nd Fighter Group flew its final mission in April 1945″ . The 332nd group used the 99th Fighter Squadron for the mission. The African-American aviators had proved the nation wrong in learning to fly, and were exceptional in World War II. “The war ends with the surrender of Japan on August 14, 1945” . The 332nd combat record was very impressive and its pilots received some of the following awards: “150 Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, 14 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts, and over 744 air Medals and Clusters” .

In July 1945 after the war, members of the 99th returned to the United States to these locations: The 447th Tuskegee Army Airfield, or Godman Field, Fort Knox, KY. The 332nd was deactivated on October 17, 1945. By the time the Korean War started, blacks pilots were not only being integrated into white organizations, but some were assigned as instructors of cadets. It was estimated that about 21 blacks pilots and hundreds of enlisted men were employed in the Korean War. Lieutenant James Harvey Jr. was one of the first jets pilots to see action in the war, a former member of the 99th.

It wasn’t until the implementation of the Civil Right Act of 1964 that the Tuskegee airmen gained official acceptance on the great Air Force Team. The Tuskegee Airmen made history, a history that will forever stand out in the annals of the United States. The Airmen compiled an impressive record, completing “1,578 missions, destroying 260 enemy aircraft, sinking one enemy destroyer and demolishing numerous ground installations. Lost 62 men in combat with 32 shot down and became prisoner of war. They escorted 200 bombing missions without losing a bomber, at a time when about one-third of such missions ended with the bombers being lost” .

Their record made it easier later for President Harry Truman to integrate the armed forces. And that act, more than any other, says Roosevelt Lewis, was the foundation for the modern civil rights movement. “It’s not about skin color, it’s your performance and commitment that count,” Lewis says. That was all laid out so purely, so clearly by the Tuskegee Airmen. The famed Tuskegee Airmen are renowned for their valor and courageous actions over the skies of North Africa, Sicily and Western Europe during World War II.

The most impressive part of their record is that the Tuskegee Airmen did not lose a single bomber under care to enemy fighters after training at Moton Field. The reputation of the Tuskegee Airmen still lives on, in Tuskegee, Alabama. The institute is still training pilots today and some have gone on to become very successful in many areas. Flying in every American battle in some of our country most sophisticated airplanes like the Awax, and the Stealth Bomber.

Sadly, one of the airmen we all should know is the late Dr. Ronald E. McNair who was killed in the Challenger Disaster in 1986. This is a brief account of a few young men with a dream of becoming a part of their country. Not by just serving in its armed forces, but being at the core of this great country. It tells of the struggles and adversities that they endeared in reaching their goal. They proved that any man could over come adversity and shine in the end. Their actions paved the way for young black men and women who live in a nation where one may fulfill his or her dreams. May they live on in our forever they did a great job.

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CAF RISE ABOVE ®

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• Tuskegee Airmen essay contest
• September 12, 2019

Calling all students 4th through 12th grade! Submit your essay for the CAF Rise Above Squadron’s essay contest saluting the Tuskegee Airmen Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)!

Deadline is February 6, 2023

Using the  Six Guiding Principles  (Aim High, Believe in Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready to Go, Never Quit, Expect to Win) describe how the Tuskegee Airmen or the WASP achieved success, or choose a goal for yourself and show how you could use the Six Guiding Principles to achieve that goal.

Entries will be judged on overall content, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Each entry must be an original composition written by the student.

The Essay Contest is open to students in the 4th – 12th grade in an accredited school or home school program during the academic year.

Entries must adhere to the following word count guidelines:

• 4th – 5th grades 250 words
• 6th – 8th grades 350 words
• 9th – 12th grades 500 words

Footnotes, citations, endnotes, and essay titles will not be counted as part of the word count allotment.

Entries must be typed. Each page of the essay must include the author’s name, grade level, name of school or home school program, address and telephone number in the upper right-hand corner of each page. This information will not be counted as part of the word count allotment.

Entries become property of the CAF Rise Above Squadron and will not be returned.

Winners will be requested to send their photograph to be featured along with their essay on the CAF Rise Above Squadron website, Facebook page and newsletter.

Entries must be emailed prior to 5:00pm on or before February 6, 2023. Email your entry to:  [email protected]

Essay contest winners will be announced on March 15, 2023.

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each grade category as follows:

Choice of a MA-1 Flight jacket

Mustang model kit

P-51C “Tuskegee Airmen”

Choice of an aviator pin

Tuskegee Airman

All entries will receive a Rise Above dog tag and Triumph Over Adversity booklet.

Carl C. Johnson, Jr. 

Carl Croston Johnson, Jr. April 27, 1926 – August 28, 2023 Class: 46-C Twin Engine Section Unit: 477th Bombardment Group Carl Croston Johnson was born on April 27, 1926, in Bellaire, Ohio, on the border between Ohio and West

Mary J. McCrea McCallum

Mary J. McCrea McCallum October 30, 1921- October 11, 1978 Class: 44-W-2 Training Location: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.) Assigned Bases: Long Beach Army Air Base (Calif.) Palm Springs Army Air Base (Calif.) March Army Air

John J. Suggs

John J. Suggs October 8, 1915 – October 10, 2013 Class: 43-E-SE Graduation date: 5/28/1943 Rank at time of graduation: 2nd Lt. Unit: 302nd Fighter Squadron Service # 0804561 From: Terre Haute, IN John Jacob

Alyce Stevens Rohrer

Alyce Stevens Rohrer September 07, 1922 – February 01, 2024 Class: 44-W-4 Planes flown: PT-17, PT-19, BT-13, AT-6, AT-11, UC-78 Training Location: Avenger Field (Sweetwater, Tex.) Assigned bases: Perrin Army Air Base (Sherman, Tex.) “Excuses

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Mile High Flight Program inspires diverse youth to explore aviation careers

D ENVER ( KDVR ) — A special initiative aimed at inspiring youth to explore careers in aviation and STEM-related fields is taking flight. 

Sponsored by the Denver Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, the Mile High Flight Program works to increase youth understanding of aviation and aerospace industries while sharing the history of the Tuskegee Airmen , the first Black military pilots. 

Roman Wilkerson, along with dozens of other students from across the state, gathered at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Department of Aviation and Aerospace Science to learn how to develop a flight plan and fly a single-engine simulator. 

“Being in the program has really gotten me to push myself beyond my limits,” Wilkerson said. “My overall goal is to become a pilot, join an airline and really get to see more of the world.” 

Eric Mosley, a United Airlines captain and son of late Tuskegee airman John Mosley, is one of the founding coordinators of the program.

“The focus and the foundation of the program is aviation, but it’s much more than that. We visit a lot of places where students get to learn about STEM and aerospace opportunities,” Mosley said. “At the end of the day, we want our students to understand that through hard work and a good flight plan, there’s really nothing that they can’t succeed in if they really put their minds to it.” 

Former students like Thomas Fortson, now a United Airlines pilot instructor, said this program gave him his start in aviation. 

“It’s like a time capsule a little bit,” Fortson said. “Just walking down the halls, I can still hear the laughter and just the good times I had with the friends I made here.”  

A labor of love, Mosley said they have pilots from every demographic that can connect with each student in the program. 

“Seeing the successes that our students have had over the years, that pays off in ways that are almost impossible to describe,” Mosley said. 

Mosley’s work, along with countless others, is now serving as an inspiration for the next generation of aviation students.  

“Study hard, work hard,” Wilkerson said. “It may be tiring, and you may have to write four essays on the same day, but in the end it will all be worth it.”  

MSU Denver has been working with the Mile High Flight Program for 28 years. 

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.