A tribute to WWII's Tuskegee Airmen. |
In 1942 America was in World War II. For black Americans, “back of the bus” and segregation was all they ever knew. Yet, they pled, “Give this chance to us. “Let us fight as pilots; let us do our part.” Many opposed: “Negroes lack intelligence to fly a plane; in combat they’d lack heart. To become a first-rate pilot takes diligence!” Approval finally won, the Tuskegee Institute began to make fighter pilots out of black men. They became heroes, turning their critics mute. Let’s review what they accomplished back then. Flying P51-C Mustangs with tails painted red, these black men were courageous and skilled when escorting bomber missions. It’s been said they kept many bomber crews from being killed. The statistics are extraordinary: 1,578 total missions flown 15,533 total sorties flown Over 260 German planes destroyed Hardly any escorted American bombers downed 950 train cars, trucks, and other vehicles destroyed 150 train locomotives destroyed 1 naval destroyer sunk with crewmen drowned Of 450 Tuskegee airmen deployed overseas, 66 died in combat and 32 became POWs Awards won: 1 Legion of Merit, 1 Silver Star, 2 Soldier Medals, 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 14 Bronze Stars, and 8 Purple Hearts These gallant black lads made their country proud. White bomber squadrons requested escort by the “Red Tails” fighters. “You see, I want my boys to get home,” so suggested one bomber squadron commander. In all, 994 black men graduated as pilots from Tuskegee Institute. Each could stand tall. At war’s end, the return home for some was hard. Despite their having risked injury or death serving their country so bravely and well, they were whisked back to prewar “second class citizenry”. The gallant exploits of these black airmen would play a major part in ending segregation in the Army, but now as civilians once again, they suffered indignities across the nation. Although admonished to “know their place”, these black pilots won glory for their race. Please check out my ten books: http://www.amazon.com/Jr.-Harry-E.-Gilleland/e/B004SVLY02/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 |