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TUSKEGEE airmen
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eep in the American South, near a small town called Tuskegee, Alabama, lies an abandoned, neglected Army Air Field. Located in a beautiful, rolling field, the site is now quiet and desolate. But ion March 7, 1942, five men stood at attention on Tuskegee Army Air Field’s only runway. That day, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Charles Debow, Jr., Lemuel R. Custis, George S. Roberts, and Mac Ross would graduate from Tuskegee’s training program to become the first African-American pilots inducted into the United States Air Force. The United States entered World War II with the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The country, at this time, was not a hospitable place for African-Americans. Most blacks were subject to “separate but equal” treatment under Jim Crow laws, and the United States military remained racially segregated. Although interest had begun to grow in allow-
ing African-Americans to serve in the military, the prevailing attitude was summed up by General Henry Arnold: “Negro pilots cannot be use in our present Air Corps units, since this would result in Negro officers serving over white enlisted men, creating an impossible social situation.” “The United States entered World War II with the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The country, at this time, was not a hospitable place for African-Americans.”
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he Tuskegee Institute was approved for participation in the civil pilot training program on October 15, 1939, and a year later the War Department announced that Negro AviaLeft: The post headquarters at Tuskegee Above: Tuskegee’s first graduating class
for North Africa on April 2nd, 1943. Their first combat mission was to attack the small Mediterranean island of Pantelleria in order to clear sea lanes for the Allied Invasion of Sicily in July of that year. The island’s population of 11,500 surrendered on June 11th, marking the first time in history that an enemy’s military resistance had been overcome by air power alone.
tion Units would be organized as soon as the necessary personnel were trained. Despite the statement of the War Department, the Air Force continued to refuse applications from Negro youths. In January of 1941, Yancey Williams, with the help of the NAACP, filed suit for admission into the Army Air Force Congressional hearings were held training program. In response, the War Department with the aim of disbanding the squadannounced that African-American pi- ron. Nevertheless, the unit would go lots would be trained at Tuskegee, Ala- on to receive a Distinguished Unit Citation for their actions. bama, and the program officially began in June of that year, with 47 officers and 429 enlisted men. After several commanding officers were replaced, Major Noel Parrish assumed command of the base, petitioning Washington to allow the Tuskegee Airmen to serve in combat.
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he first unit to complete training at Tuskegee was the 99th Pursuit Squadron, which shipped out
Right: The Flying 99th Above: Cadets training at the base
Left: A class of Tuskegee Pilots Below: The Freeman Field Mutiny
Despite the success of this air-toground attack, the unit was criticized for not shooting down enemy aircraft. Congressional hearings were held with the aim of disbanding the squadron. Nevertheless, the unit would go on to receive a Distinguished Unit Citation for their actions during this mission. Many local businesses would not serve the black pilots. One laundromat refused to launder their clothes, while agreeing to wash the uniforms of captured German soldiers. As African-American pilots were successfully trained, the NAACP and other organizations began to press for an expansion of African-American forces in the war effort. The 477th Bomber Unit was
formed, and grew to comprise 1,200 officers and enlisted men, as well as 60 B-25 bombers. Their home base was Selfridge Field, outside of Detroit, where the commanding officers were Colonel Robert Selway and Major General Frank O’Driscoll Hunter, both of whom were staunch segregationists. Although Army Regulation 210-10 forbade segregation of air base facilities, both commanding officers consistently violated it. The base facilities were so thoroughly segregated that the movie theater had a line drawn down the middle. When the audience tried to intermingle, the film was stopped and they were ordered to separate. Black officers petitioned for access to the only Officer’s Club but were denied. Black officers also noted that many white officers would join the unit for only enough time to be deemed ‘promotable,’ while no black officers from the unit were promoted.
In 1948, President Harry Truman officially ended segregation in the miltary, due in large part to the triumphs of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Many local businesses would not serve the black pilots. One laundromat refused to launder their clothes, while agreeing to wash the uniforms of captured German soldiers. After the unit had been transferred to Freeman Field, officers of the 477th tried to enter the whites-only Officer’s Club, and were arrested when they refused to leave. 162 arrests occurred, and several officers were court martialled. In the wake of the Freeman Field Mutiny, the unit was reorganized and Colonel Robert Selway was relieved of command, to be replaced by the Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., one of the highest-ranked African-Americans in the armed forces. Selway’s staff was removed from power, and replaced by black officers. In 1995, the Air Force officially vindicate the actions of the officers, and the Freeman Field Mutiny is generally regarded as an important stepping stone towards full integration of the military and a model for later efforts to integrate public facilities.
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About 445 were deployed overseas, and 150 lost their lives during the war. The Tuskegee Airmen are credited with destroying over 250 German aircraft, received three Distinguished Unit Citations, and maintained a close to perfect record while escorting U.S. bombers. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen received a Silver Star, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, 744 Air Medals, and eight Purple Hearts. Many Tuskegee graduates went on to play a vital role in the United States military, from training other pilots to continuing to serve and to rise in rank. Daniel James Jr., an instructor of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, became the first African-American to reach the rank of Four-Star General. In 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981 to officially end segregation in the military, due in large part to the triumphs of the Tuskegee Airmen. Through their struggles and their successes, they were able rom 1941 to 1946, 996 pilots to secure a place in the United States were trained in Tuskegee. military for men of all races.
Above: Pilots in formation for inspection