As a Veteran, you understand better than anyone the courage, skill and dedication it takes to serve in the military. Today, we’re turning the spotlight on a group of servicemen who not only displayed these same qualities in abundance, but also broke barriers and paved the way for future generations. They are the Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the “Red Tails” of the 332nd Fighter Group.
The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of volunteer African American military pilots (fighters and bombers) who fought in World War II and formed the 332nd Fighter and 477th Bombardment Groups of the United States Army Air Forces. This name also applies to navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks and other support personnel.
To win a third term for President in 1940, President Roosevelt pursued Black voters by promising to create Black flying units in the military. Roosevelt did secure a third term—and African Americans won the right to fly, however, they served in a single and segregated unit from their white counterparts.
On March 22, 1941, the 99th Pursuit Squadron, comprised of 33 pilots, was created. Lieutenant Colonel William H. Holloman, III, who expressed, “I really didn’t care whether it was a segregated unit or non-segregated. I wanted to fly. And I would do anything to get the opportunity to fly.” This quote encapsulates the spirit and determination of these brave men who fought not just the enemy abroad but also the enemy of racial discrimination at home. Lt. Col. George Hardy declared, “You can’t turn your back on your own country, so we’re as patriotic as anybody else. And so we wanted our chance to prove that we could do something.”
From 1941 – 1946, over 1,000 airmen graduated from Tuskegee, flew 1,578 missions and 15,533 sorties. These brave men destroyed 250 enemy aircraft on the ground, and 150 in the air. The Red Tails have the lowest loss record of all fighter escort groups, were in constant demand from allied bomber units, and hold a record that is unmatched by any other fighter unit.
The Tuskegee Airmen’s contributions to the war effort paved the way for the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948 with Executive Order 9981. Secretary of the Air Force W. Stuart Symington was on record that “Blacks should be able to enter the Air Force on the basis of their merits and abilities rather than their race.” Lt. Col. William H. Holloman, III, said, “We helped Black people raise their heads and say, ‘I can do it. I can go anywhere I want to go.’” As Veterans, we understand the weight and significance of these words. The Tuskegee Airmen’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination, values every service member and Veteran can relate to.
In April 2006, the U.S. Congress voted to award the Tuskegee Airmen a Congressional Gold Medal, the most prestigious award Congress can give to civilians. The award was presented to the surviving Tuskegee Airmen on March 29, 2007, at a ceremony in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol “in recognition of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.”
