Fun Fact #285
Fun Fact #285
The Tuskegee Airmen
Led by Walter Francis White, the NAACP had finally managed to convince the United States Army Air Force to accept African American pilots. Thus, the USAAF converted one of the fields of the Tuskegee Institute into an Airstrip, and began to train these new recruits as pilots. Even though they would be given outdated planes and shunned at every opportunity, by the end of World War 2 their unit–the 332nd fighter group– would be one of the most highly decorated of the war. Their successes forever changed how the military thought of African Americans, opening the door for more rights being restored to them.
Also worthy of note is the reason Luke Skywalker flies Red 5 in Star Wars was meant to be a tip of the hat from George Lucas to the Airmen. He would later try to honor their memory again by producing the movie “Red Tails” which follows their exploits during World War 2 and is well worth watching.
(War Bonds poster featuring Tuskegee airmen.)
