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.

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.

(source: www.tuskegeeairmen.org)

I know one of their chief mechanics. He didn't go overseas, but he got to work on a captured ME 262, which was brought to the States for evaluations. He said it was quite a machine.

This chap lost his brother. He was a tanker in the Bulge, and his tank was destroyed.

Thank you for posting this, Bamapt.

Strange that we were just discussing in another thread how inspiring we found the movie "Glory" to be. Seems that in the Civil War, black soldiers had to prove they could or would fight at all. In WWII, they had to prove they could fly.

God bless President Truman. He put all of that to rest for once and for all, and now I wouldn't feel remiss in saying that the Armed Forces are probably the most diverse, merit-based institution associated with the United States.

Well said TisofThee...I remember a line in the movie when the pilots were told they were not being assigned, They were requested...Hats off to the pilots!!! Norse...

"It destroyed three German ME-262 Jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters......."
"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."

After reading the efforts that black servicemen made during WWII for the US (heck - in ANY war), I'm amazed that they had to keep proving themselves time and time again before the prevailing military attitude to their fighting capabilities was overturned.

Hells bells. Did anyone else manage to shoot down any Me-262's?

Michael

I have always been amazed and impressed at how the Tuskegee airmen kept casualties so low among the planes they escorted.

I'd also like to know what the German pilots who survived being shot down by the Tuskegee Airment thought of being shot down by the "untermensch."

Ha ha!

What a delicious way to add insult to injury!

The barrier to Blacks in the military didn't go away that easy. Of course when Viet Nam came around, the military was accused of sending the poor to fight the unpopular war.
Did you notice that the movie "The Red Ball Express" gave the impression that that unit was mostly, if not entirely, WHITE. But this unit was a majority of black Americans.


I'm sure there were, but I'm no expert on WW2 fighter combat. Chuck Yeager was one. He got his while it was at a final approach for landing.

Somewhere in here, I posted a comment about the Tuskegee 477th Bombardment Group. I'll see if anyone can find it. If interested, search Amazon.com for a book: "The Tuskegee Airmen Mutiny at Freeman Field", by James C. Warren.

Steve

Oh, as long as there are people, there will be racism, classism, and other forms of discrimination. In the Civil War, a common complaint among soldiers was, "Rich man's war, poor man's fight."

At least in Viet Nam, from what I have heard and read, if one came in with prejudices, for the most part they diminished, if only for the sake of self-preservation. If you don't work together, trust eachother, and come through for your comrades, you and they will likely die.

I guess that's why I respect the diversity of the military so much. In the military, it seems that it doesn't matter whether or not you like eachother. It seems that it matters that you do your job and do your duty, by your comrades, and by your country. Blacks will always have to work harder to prove themselves. We accept that, for the most part. It's better than not being given the chance at all.

Not trying to preach, just trying to offer my reflections on your very important point.


Yes, I noticed. But it doesn't surprise me. That movie was made in 1952.


I'll look for it! I'd love to read what you have to say about it!

Excellent post, Michelle. Thanks for sharing. Great info!

Is there any specific "ace" of the 332nd Fighter Group about whom you could post a bio in WWII aces?

Mark

Um, I'm a wee bit embarrassed to admit it, but I don't know how many planes shot down qualifies one as an ace. If you enlighten me, I'll search for more info.

michelle

5 or more planes shot down makes an ace.

Andy

Michelle (and others who are new), Vat69 began and he and the Colonel populated a terrific thread about WWII aces here:

http://www.wildbillguarnere.com/forums/ind...t=ST&f=17&t=684

Have a look if you want to know about aces and "the right stuff". Certainly the Tuskegee Airmen had plenty of it. BK

Hey Michael,
You didn't ask the more obvious question: What other Fighter pilot has ever sunk an enemy destroyer?

Steve

Didn't think it needed to be asked

Michael

Johnnie Johnson refers to shooting down a lone ME 262 in his book "Wing Leader," and notes how everyone in his squadron was jubilant over what was, in the end, a lone kill.

That was the impression the Me 262 made on its enemies.

Quite a machine.

I can remember reading (I think in Mr Ambrose's D-Day; I'm most likely wrong on this point) that towards the end of the war, the allies sent a bombing mission into Germany with about 800 bombers with a nearly one-to-one fighter escort. This formation was attacked by about 20 - 25 Me 262's that promptly hammered the bombers flat with the escorts not being able to do a thing to stop 'em....... Thank Christ Hitler got his knickers in a knot about 'em and (argh! I can't quite remember if this is right) grounded the lot and/or ceased production.

Michael - who is feeling rather senile right now...... <_<

Hitler relagated them to the Fighter/Bomber role.

Where was his head?

Steve

He saw the ME 262 on display and said, "That is the new blitz bomber!"

So they made it the new "blitz bomber."

However, Johannes Steinhoff's complaint that it would have turned the tide of the war as a fighter in 1943 is inaccurate....the Germans had a LOT of trouble with the metallurgy and stability of the design in general, and it wasn't ready in either version until 1944.

Kiwi,
The Me-262 was named the "Swallow" (in German, of course). Am I correct in recalling that the fighter-bomber version was re-named?

Steve

"Where was his head?" - Custermen

I think FJH as wild bill in 'The Breaking Point' episode's comment about "......that lump in his (Lt. Dike's) throat's his nose" also apply to Hitler.

Michael

No, I think the ME 262s, regardless of role, fighter or attack plane, were called the "Swallow." ("Schwalbe" in German.)

Recently, I saw a documentary called "Nightfighters: The True Story of the 332nd Fighter Group -- The Tuskegee Airmen". The narration was a bit over-the-top, but the content was wonderful: complete and concise, with lots of interview time and archival footage. Unfortunately, Gen. Benjamin O. Davis was not included. I wonder why? I kept waiting to see him!

The Andrews Air Show this year featured a special display of the Tusekeegee Airmen. And they were thrilled about this member of the Thunderbirds. The show was rained out, but this spirit burns through.

My respects to Major Smith.


washingtonpost.com
This Thunderbird Knows the City Below
D.C. Native to Fly With Elite Squad During Air Show

By Avis Thomas-Lester
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 18, 2003; Page C03


The Washington Monument came into view and Air Force Maj. Mark D. Smith swallowed against a lump forming in his throat.

He'd flown over the nation's capital before, but there was something about seeing the gray granite obelisk over the nose of an F-16 that made him intensely proud as he flew into Washington on Thursday. As a boy growing up in Southeast, Smith had dreamed of flying fighter planes, being a hero. But the reality was much sweeter than his dreams had ever been.

"As I was looking at the monuments, I just felt a lot of pride, especially with our country involved in the war effort in Iraq," said Smith, 34. "I was thinking about the debt of gratitude all of us owe this country. I was thinking about all the opportunities D.C. holds for people to do things in life and how I am proof that even an inner-city kid from D.C . . . can accomplish anything."

The Washington native is one of eight pilots in the nation's prestigious Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squad. He had hoped to be back in his F-16 yesterday, flying high over Andrews Air Force Base as part of the annual Department of Defense air show.

But the cloud cover forced officials to cancel the Thunderbirds demonstration for the second straight day, along with several other popular features, including an F-117 flyby and jump shows by the Army Golden Knights and the Air Force's 82nd Airborne Division.

The air show was rained out Friday, the first day of the three-day event. And yesterday, on a cold and drizzly day, the turnout was light. The event continues today with hopes for a performance by the Thunderbirds and others.

"We're disappointed, but we'll be back tomorrow," Smith said as he signed autographs with other members of the Thunderbirds after their demonstration was scrapped yesterday.

The fact that the show went on at all this year surprised many. Military leaders had talked about canceling it, but as the effort in Iraq wound down, the event got the green light. Officials said yesterday that there had been no significant problems or security breaches.

Yesterday's festivities included a private ceremony honoring Smith as the hometown Thunderbird. More than 50 relatives, friends and church members from Ebenezer AME in Fort Washington attended. An invitation to the ceremony sent out by Smith's parents, Norris and Shirley, featured the pilot's mother standing with her son, resplendent in a red Thunderbirds jumpsuit with the trademark red, white and blue patch on his chest and ascot.

"See our son . . . Thunderbird No. 2, perform from his left wing position in the Diamond Formation," the card said.

That Smith would be flying the four-plane formation at 450 miles an hour, 18 inches from another plane, was something the family has grown used to.

"He's a very skilled pilot," Norris Smith said. "They know what they are doing up there."

An honor student at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Mark Smith went to the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in legal studies. He went on to receive a master's degree in systems management and spent a year as one of four recruiters for the academy, focusing on African American and Hispanic candidates.

He wanted to fly, but a shortage of slots for pilots left him on a waiting list. He got his chance when a slot opened at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He then flew in Arizona and South Carolina and taught flying in South Korea and later at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, before applying to become a Thunderbird.

"We had to do an application for the commander, and they asked about our goals. I said mine were to be the best husband, father, officer and gentleman I could be," Smith said.

Smith, who is married and has three young children, said his parents instilled in him and his older brother, Norris Jr., a deep love of country and a commitment to excel. As a youngster, he put together model airplanes with his father and brother. Norris Sr. suspended them from the boys' bedroom ceiling.

"We used to go out near the Anacostia and watch the planes take off from National. My mom would bring a picnic lunch," said Smith, whose pilot nickname is "Chappie" after the famed Tuskegee airman, Daniel "Chappie" James Jr.

During a program at DeMatha on Friday, Smith told the students at the all-boys school that they should be proud to be "DeMatha men." At DeMatha, Smith was an athlete who excelled academically, said Principal Daniel McMahon, who gave Smith a DeMatha T-shirt and accepted Smith's gift of a laminated and autographed poster of the Thunderbirds.

Since he entered the Air Force Academy, Smith dreamed of being assigned to the elite Thunderbirds, nicknamed "America's Ambassadors in Blue." There are only eight pilots, six of whom fly in the air shows. They are appointed for two years, and their performance season runs from March to November, with the balance of the year dedicated to practice.

"I know I am blessed to get to do this every day. . . . We were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for an air show on the water, and there were more than 4 million people there. There was six miles of beach covered with people to watch the air show."

Smith isn't sure what the future holds after his stint with the Thunderbirds. He was trained to fly combat missions.

"After this is over, I'll go wherever Uncle Sam sends me. I love being in the Air Force," he said. "I love putting on the uniform every day. A lot of people call us heroes. I don't think of myself as a hero. I just think of myself as a local boy who did good."




© 2003 The Washington Post Company

Tuskegee Airman with Waterloo tie honored in France at D-Day event

By PAT KINNEY, Assistant City Editor

WATERLOO --- A member of World War II's famed "Tuskegee Airmen" with Waterloo ties was awarded France's highest military honor on the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion earlier this month.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Herbert Eugene "Gene" Carter, brother of late longtime Waterloo electrical contractor Art Carter and the uncle of Waterloo Community Schools elementary curriculum coordinator Loleta Carter-Hall, was one of 100 American veterans selected to be named a Knight of the Legion of Honor by French President Jaques Chirac.

The Legion of Honor medals were awarded June 6, the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, at Colleville-Sur-Mer, France, in a ceremony conducted by Chirac and attended by U.S. President George W. Bush, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Some 300 veterans from 13 countries received the award, mainly from the United States, Britain and Canada.

"This prestigious French distinction is conferred on you by the French Government in recognition for your participation in the liberation of France during the Second World War," Jean-David Levitte, French ambassador to the United States, wrote Carter. Established by French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the medal is awarded to French citizens of those of other countries for meritorious service to the French republic.

Carter, 85, is a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Air Force, and a former administrator at Tuskegee University in Alabama. A native of Amory, Miss., and one of 10 children, Carter was a 19-year-old animal husbandry major at what was then Tuskegee Institute when he signed up for pilot training in 1940.

Officials in the United States "had stereotyped the Negro as being incapable and lacking the capabilities to operate something as complicated as an aircraft," Carter said in a 1999 Courier interview on a visit to Waterloo. It took a lawsuit by a Howard University student to prompt President Franklin Roosevelt and federal officials to accept applications and form an all-black air squadron, trained on an airfield built at Tuskegee.

Initially only 53 pilots were accepted into the military --- Carter was one of them --- but that quota vanished based on the success of that initial group and the overall need for pilots during the war effort.

Carter was an original member of the all-black 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th was put into action in April 1943 in North Africa, and then Sicily, and Italy, and southern France. He flew 77 combat missions with 125 combat hours.

"I was just as nervous and concerned on the last one as the first one," Carter said. "You just have faith in your own capability and certainly faith in the equipment you're operating, and you feel, in terms of combat maneuvers, you're the same as anybody else up there."

Initially engaged in close ground support of Allied troops, the black pilots initially were criticized for a low "kill" count of enemy planes, when their mission actually was to destroy ground targets. Thrown into air-to-air combat with superior German fighters during the invasion at Anzio Beach in Italy in January 1944, the 99th shot down 17 enemy planes and damaged five others in four days of fighting.

"This put to rest the lie that black men could not fly and fight," Carter said.

By June 1944, the Tuskegee Airmen were put into aircraft more equal to those of their German adversaries and assigned to bomber escort duty. They never lost an American bomber to enemy planes in raids over German, southern France and the Balkan nations, and were dubbed the "Red-Tailed Angels" by U.S. bomber crews for the distinctive red-painted tail assemblies on their planes.

Carter conducts speaking tours about the Tuskegee Airmen, and received an enthusiastic response to his talk at McKinstry Elementary School during his 1999 visit.


http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2004/06...eba0045f958.txt

Thank you, Andy. Of all the events that took a back seat to the Reagan news, missing this one really rankled. The ceremonies that included all the Heads of State and especially the awarding of these medals really should have been shown. I sure hope someone from markets some tapes of these events. BK

BK,

The question of Tuskeegee Airmen aces keeps popping up and goes unanswered. As you know, I flew with several of them, including Daniel "Chappie" James (first black 4 Star) , Vernon V. Haywood (last Redtails CO in 1945), and Asa Whitehead ("Mr. Death"). None of those had 5 victories and made ace. Chappie didn't see any combat in WWII, but he saw a lot in Korea in Vietnam. In fact, I had cause a year or so ago to research the 332nd Fighter Group and was unable to find anyone listed as an Ace, although they knocked out a hell of a lot German aircraft on the ground. Flying fighter escort wasn't the place to do a lot of rat-racing, anyway, and fighter escort was what the 332nd did best.

V.V. Haywood retired as a full Colonel and is listed in the Arizona Hall of Fame. Asa Whitehead got his nickname for shooting down two Bf-109's on the same day, unaided. Chappie James was a hoochmate in Korea when he was a Captain. After Korea, Chappie went to the Michigan Air National Guard as their Air Advisor, still flying the P-51. He flew a P-51 down to Shaw AFB to spend a weekend with three of us who had been with him in Korea.

I didn't run into him again until I was going through F-4 Upgrading at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona in 1967 when Chappie was Director of Operations of the Training Wing. From there he went to the 555th Tactical Fighter (the famous "Tripple Nickle" ) at Ubon, Thailand as Vice Commander, Robin Olds Commanding. He made his first star in the Pentagon, and from there he went on up the ladder as VC of Military Airlift Command, winding up with 4 stars as Commander, NORAD.

Checking all the available Tuskeegee Airmen records, none of them made Ace.

Y.o.s.,

LongJohn

Yup. And that explains why he wouldn't have been anywhere else but on the tarmac at Clark Air Base when the first of the Fourth POW Wing arrived in February 1973, welcoming any and all, but especially bear-hugging the zoomies.

A sight I'll never forget, in living black and white in the middle of my night in NYC. A glorious event, I must say. BK

PS: We've talked about General James more than once on these boards. Use your Search button to learn more. A very impressive American.

I guess they never really got to see any of the German's they were fighting. One year in Frederick they asked me if I was German. ah no.

If you would like to meet some of the men and talk to them, attend the Reading, PA air show. They used to go to the Frederick Air Show in MD but they are no longer having it.

T