Medium: Brushed Acrylic on 16x20 Stretched Canvas
During World War II, suffering under the same false and racist
stereotypes that had previously plagued African-American progress throughout the history of the United States, black men were thought to be incapable of possessing the mental know-with all, bravery and patriotism to fly as fighter pilots or flight crew in the United States Army Air Corps. After persistent public pressure, the Roosevelt Administration directed the War Department to develop an "all black" flying unit.
In 1942, the first class of potential black pilots began training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, in Tuskegee, Alabama, thus earning the moniker "The Tuskegee Airmen". One of the first successful graduates of the class was Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr., whom soon after was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to command the all-black 99th Pursuit Unit. The 99th saw combat in Italy at the island of Pantelleria and Sicily.
Lt. Colonel Davis was soon ordered back stateside to take
over command of the 32nd Fighter Group, a much larger, all black, flying unit training to be deployed to fight in the European war effort. Unbeknownced to him, plans were in the works to disassemble the ,all black, 99th Pursuit Squadron, under the false premise that the black pilots performances in combat had been sub-par to their white counterparts. Infuriated when he received the news, Lt. Colonel Davis called for a conference with the media at the Pentagon and challenged the accusers to prove their claims. He also took his grievances to the War Department where an official committee to study the performance of African-American servicemen was formed. Through the persistence of Lt. Colonel Davis, the 99th was allowed to continue flying in the war efforts. In January 1944 they shot down 12 German aircraft in Anzio, squashing any further criticism and doubt as to their ability and fitness to perform.
The 332nd Fighter Group, known as "The Red-Tails" because of the distinctive red color painted on the rear sections of their planes, was based in Ramatelli, Italy. The ,all black, 32nd flew several successful missions deep behind the German lines, which was extremely perilous due to the 3rd Reich's homicidal protocol when it came to the capture of black prisoners.
The many successes of The Tuskegee Airmen, prompted the War Department to expand the command of Lt. Colonel Davis to also lead the all-black 47th Bombardment Group. In total, under the guidance of Lt. Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr., The Tuskegee Airmen compiled an impressive combat record against the Nazi Regime. Dispatched on more than 15,000 sorties, they shot down 111 Lutwaffe planes and destroyed or disabled 273 enemy aircraft on the ground, while only losing 66 aircraft of their own.
The 332nd Fighter Group, known as "The Red-Tails" because of the distinctive red color painted on the rear sections of their planes, was based in Ramatelli, Italy. The ,all black, 32nd flew several successful missions deep behind the German lines, which was extremely perilous due to the 3rd Reich's homicidal protocol when it came to the capture of black prisoners.
The many successes of The Tuskegee Airmen, prompted the War Department to expand the command of Lt. Colonel Davis to also lead the all-black 47th Bombardment Group. In total, under the guidance of Lt. Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr., The Tuskegee Airmen compiled an impressive combat record against the Nazi Regime. Dispatched on more than 15,000 sorties, they shot down 111 Lutwaffe planes and destroyed or disabled 273 enemy aircraft on the ground, while only losing 66 aircraft of their own.
Written by Carl G. Brown
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