Wednesday's Black History capsule

[FUNdamental]

From their website.


The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who volunteered to become America's first black military airmen. They came from every section of America, with large numbers coming from New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit. Each one possessed a strong personal desire to serve the United States of America proudly and to the best of his ability as an airman, even while many other Americans felt that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism.

Those who possessed the physical and mental qualifications and were accepted for aviation cadet training were trained initially to be pilots, and later to be either pilots, navigators, or bombardiers. Most were college graduates or undergraduates, while the remainder demonstrated their academic qualifications through comprehensive entrance examinations. No standards were lowered for those black pilots and other airmen trained as operations officers, meteorologists, intelligence officers, engineering officers, flight surgeons, etc. Still others were trained to be aircraft and engine mechanics, armament specialists, radio repairmen, parachute riggers, control tower operators, administrators and for every other type of skill necessary to function as an air force squadron, or ground support unit.

The black airmen who became single- or multi-engine pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee Alabama. The first aviation cadet class began in July 1941 and completed its training nine months later in March 1942. Thirteen started in the first class. Five successfully completed the training, including Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a West Point graduate. The other four were commissioned second lieutenants, and all five received Army Air Corps silver pilot wings. From 1942 until 1946, nine hundred and ninety-two black- Americans graduated in aviation cadet classes at TAAF, and also received commissions and pilot's wings.


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[bassmount]

Now you are getting the picture on how to do things. Good Job! Historical facts with a documentable site to look at, thats it! AND let me just add that these men were the tops and served this country well. They deserve Kudos for a job well done and DID NOT deserve what they got in return.

Here is the rest of it from the same site:

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Black navigators, bombardiers and bomber gunnery crews were trained at selected military bases elsewhere in the United States. Black Americans began training as aircraft and engine mechanics at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Illinois in 1941 before being assigned to Tuskegee in 1942, where subsequent mechanics were trained after facilities were in place.

Four hundred and fifty of the pilots were trained at Tuskegee served overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th Fighter Squadron trained in and flew P-40 Warhawks in combat in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 until July 1944 when they were transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force.

The all-black, 332nd Fighter Group consisted originally of three fighter squadrons, the 100th, the 301st and the 302nd, and prepared for combat at Selfridge Air Base, Michigan from March 1943 until December 1943. Training was conducted in P-40 Warhawks and P-39 Airocobras. The Group began overseas combat operations at Capodichino Air Base, Naples, Italy in February 1944 flying P-39 Airocobras. Their mission was Naples Harbor and Mediterranean Sea air patrol in the 12th Air Force in May 1944.

In June 1944, the 332nd Fighter Group transferred to the 15th Strategic Air Force on the Adriatic Sea side of Italy and was stationed at Ramitelli Air Base, Italy. The Group became a long range heavy bomber escort unit. One month later, July 1944, the 99th Fighter Squadron was transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group, and the Group became the only four-squadron fighter group performing bomber escort missions in the 15th Air Force. This was a significant factor in the effectiveness and success of the Group as it established the incredible and unprecedented record of flying all of its bomber escort missions (200 over most of central and southern Europe), from June 1944 until April 1945, without the loss of a single bomber to enemy aircraft. The Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts in June 1944, and P-51 Mustangs thereafter.

The 99th Squadron distinguished itself by being awarded two Presidential Unit Citations (June-July 1943 and May 1944) for outstanding tactical air support and aerial combat in the 12th Air Force in Italy, before joining the 332nd Fighter Group.

The 332nd Fighter Group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its longest bomber escort mission to Berlin, Germany, March 24, 1945. It destroyed three German ME-262 Jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters without losing any of the bombers or any of its own fighter aircraft to enemy fighters.

The 332nd Fighter Group had also distinguished itself in June 1944 when two of its pilots flying P-47 Thunderbolts discovered a German destroyer in the harbor of Trieste, Italy. One of the pilots, Lieutenant Gynne Pierson of the 302nd Fighter Squadron, using only the aircraft's 50-caliber machine guns, strafed the destroyer, causing it to explode and sink. This was another unprecedented aerial gunnery feat of World War II.

The tenacious bomber escort cover provided by the 332nd "Red Tail" fighters often discouraged enemy fighter pilots from attacking bombers escorted by the 332nd Fighter Group. This resulted in fewer enemy fighter challenges with resultant fewer enemy aircraft destroyed or damaged by the Group, as compared with other 15th Air Force fighter escort groups. The successful escort record resulted in frequent expressions of appreciation from the 15th Air Force bomber units and crews.

The outstanding record of black airmen in World War II was accomplished by men whose names were: Davis, Hall, Campbell, Tresville, Pruitt, Gleed, Peirson, Lester, Browne, Archer, McGee, (later James), and many others who will live in hallowed memory. Each one accepted the challenge, proudly displayed his skill and determination while suppressing internal rage from humiliation and indignation caused by daily experiences of racism and bigotry, at home and overseas. Those airmen fought two wars - one against a military force overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad.

In the United States, black airmen officers who did not go overseas in 1944 and 1945, and trained as B-25 Medium Bomber crew in the 477th Medium Bombardment Group, experienced racism that perhaps transcended all other World War II racial incidents.

After the 332nd Fighter Group departed Selfridge Field, Michigan in December 1943 to go overseas, the remainder of the black airmen personnel on the base comprised mostly of the 477th Medium Bombardment Group. They were treated as "trainees", and all of the black officers were denied access to base officers' club.

This resulted in heated reaction from the black officers. The memory of the recent race riot in nearby Detroit, Michigan in the Spring of 1943 led to the transfer of the 477th Group from Selfridge Field to Godman Field, Kentucky. At Godman, the treatment and hostility continued and in early 1945, the group was transferred to Freeman Field in Indiana where hostilities reached a climax.

When black officers entered the Freeman Field Base Officers' Club against direct orders for them to stay out, one hundred and three officers were arrested and charged with insubordination, and ordered to face court martial proceedings. The court martials were quickly dropped against one hundred; two of the remaining three eventually had their charges dropped, and one officer was convicted.

Fifty years later, at the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia In August 1995, 15 of the 103 officers were officially informed by the United States Air Force that their personnel records were purged of all reference to the Freeman Field incident, and the one officer convicted had the court martial conviction reversed and his record cleared.

After the war in Europe ended in 1945, black airmen returned to the United States and faced continued racism and bigotry despite their war record.

As white air units downsized and personnel were discharged, retired, etc., Tuskegee Army Air Base remained segregated and continued to train new airmen for segregated service until 1946. Large numbers of black airmen elected to remain in the service after World War II, but because of segregation, they were confined either to the 332nd Fighter Group or the 477th Composite Group, and later to the all-black 332nd Fighter Wing, which was stationed at Lockbourne Air Base, Columbus, Ohio.

With segregation restrictions, opportunities for advancement and promotion were very limited and this affected morale. Nevertheless, in 1949, a select group of black fighter pilots from the 332nd Fighter Group took first place in the U.S. Air Force annual National Fighter Gunnery Meet at Las Vegas Air Force Base, Nevada. Myths of black airmen incompetence, lack of skill, etc., were long forgotten or disproved. Many white units experienced frustration in needing qualified personnel but were unable to bring into their units the experienced black airmen because of segregation. Some white air force units initiated plans to integrate their units in 1947.

In 1948, President Harry Truman enacted Executive Order No. 9981 - directing equality of treatment and opportunity in all of the United States Armed Forces, which in time led to the end of racial segregation in the U.S. military forces. This was also the first step toward racial integration in the United States.

The experience, the record, and the behavior of black American airmen in World War II, and after, were important factors in the initiation of the historic social change to achieve racial equality in America.

These were the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.
They accepted the challenge.


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[cashhound]

I had heard of the Tuskegee Airmen, of course, and knew a little of the history. What I DIDN'T know was this group led the way to integration.

It amazes me, even now, how horribly human beings were (and often still are) treated. I am proud of the progress so far, and wish the progression could move more quickly toward better acceptance across the board. I would hope I would see equality for ALL humans during my lifetime.

Thanks Fun for posting this...and Becky for expanding on it.


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[LocaChica]

Thank you both for sharing.