Finishing up a book on them, so here's another interesting chapter in aviation history;
The Red Tails - Tuskegee Airmen
The Museum is a Repository for the History of the Tuskegee Airmen and Boasts the Largest Collection of Airmen Artifacts in the World.
tuskegeemuseum.org
RISE ABOVE is the CAF three-fold educational outreach program that brings the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) to life in communities and classrooms everywhere.
cafriseabove.org
The Wiki page, it's rather long and I'll read it later to see how it compares with other material I've read about them.;
en.wikipedia.org
So 80+ years ago, scores of young American males of "African" ancestry chose to offer themselves in defense of the nation of their birth and ancestry.
It was an enticing opportunity since it included the chance to learn to fly the current technology of aircraft and serve as officers in service to the nation of their citizenship.
It was a departure from the decades+ culture of segregation and exclusion then prevalent, a step away from the past. An opportunity to apply equality of opportunity plus chance to support one's nation in the greater Global War and Effort for Liberty and Equality.
Scores to dozens flocked to apply, and among the few dozen chosen would arise the unique and elite organization to be known as the "Tuskegee Airman". A USAAF fighter group composed of primarily Black pilots trained to be combat proficient against the German Luftwaffe in the air battles over Europe.
World War Two was a global conflict that would see the USA arise as a major world power influencing the course war and it's post-conflict structure~organization.
A number of factors would influence their effectiveness and proficiency, but their main source would be an 'esprit de corp' beyond the racial/ethnic composition of their group and the cultural bias and prejudice they came from. By war's end they would prove to be one of the most effective USAAF fighter groups in the ETO, and set a record seldom equaled.
Early in the war, during their training, they started with the inspirational motto: "Rise Above".
In the course of training they would add the following epitaphs;
Aim High
Expect to Win
Never Quit
Use your Brain
Believe in Yourself
Be Ready to Go
All would be concepts essential to any fighter pilot combat group, and adopted in one or other similar forms.
Despite an origin from racial prejudice, bias, and obstruction; the men of the 332nd Fighter Group proved that race and ethnic origin was not a factor detracting from equality for opportunity or performance(results). Many would go on post WWII to have brilliant careers in military and combat aviation, as well as similar civilian pursuits.
en.wikipedia.org
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getpocket.com
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