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.
