The Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black military aviators in the US Army Air Corps(ACC). They were trained at the Tuskegee Airy Army Field in Alabama and flew more than 15,000 individual sorties during World War II. They earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. During this time, African Americans faced significant discrimination and were believed to not be able to learn to fly or operate sophisticated aircraft. In September 1940, however, President Roosevelt announced that the ACC would begin to start training black pilots. The program's trainees came from all over the country. The program trained around 1,000 pilots and nearly 14,000 navigators, bombardiers, instructors, aircraft and engine mechanics, control tower operators, and other maintenance and support staff. In April 1942, the Tuskegee-trained 99th Pursuit Squadron flew missions in second-hand P-40 planes in North Africa and Sicily but had trouble manoeuvring the older planes as compared to the German counterparts. They were then moved to Italy, where they shot down 12 German fighters in two days, finally proving themselves in combat. In February 1944, more fighter squadrons arrived in Italy and combined with the 99th to create the new 332nd Fighter Group. This group escorted the heavy bombers of the 15th Air Force during deep raids into the enemy territory. The tails fo their planes were pained red for identification, and earned them the nickname, "Red Tails." In the end, the 332nd had destroyed or damaged 36 German plans in the air and 237 on the group, 1,000 rail cars and transport vehicles, and a German destroyer. However, they did continue to face racism and prejudice when they went back home. They represented an important step in racial integration in the military.