TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

Tuskegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, very resolute juvenile men who recruited to become America's first very dark infantry airmen, at a time when there were numerous persons who considered that very dark men needed understanding, ability, bravery and patriotism. They came from every part of the homeland, with large figures approaching from New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. Each one owned a powerful individual yearn to assist the United States of America at the best of his ability.

Those who owned the personal and mental requirements were acknowledged as aviation cadets to be taught primarily as single-engine pilots and subsequent to be either twin-engine pilots, navigators or bombardiers. Most were school graduates or undergraduates. Others illustrated their learned requirements through comprehensive entry examinations. (Astor 1998)

No measures were let down for the pilots or any of the other ones who taught in procedures, meteorology, understanding, technology, surgery or any of the other agent fields. Enlisted constituents were taught to be aircraft and motor mechanics, armament experts, wireless repairmen, parachute riggers, command tower operators, policemen, administrative clerical assistants and all of the other abilities essential to completely function as an Army Air Corps soaring squadron or ground support unit.

The very dark airmen who became single-engine or multi-engine pilots were taught at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee Alabama. The first aviation cadet class started in July 1941 and accomplished teaching nine months subsequent in March 1942. Thirteen begun in the first class. Five effectively accomplished the teaching, one of them being Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a West Point Academy graduate. The other four were requested second lieutenants, and all five obtained Army Air Corps shiny navigate wings. (Astor 1998)

From 1941 through 1946, nine century and ninety-six pilots graduated at TAAF, obtaining charges and navigate wings. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery crews were taught at chosen infantry bases in another location in the United States. Mechanics were taught at Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Illinois until amenities were in location in 1942 at TAAF.

Four century and fifty of the pilots who were taught at TAAF assisted overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th Fighter Squadron taught in and took air journey P-40 Warhawk airplane in battle in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 until July 1944 when they were moved to the ...