Original Tuskeegee Airman Leonard Yates greets Quinn Thorne on his birthday.

Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV)- A five year old boy who became a fan of the Tuskegee Airmen after seeing the movie Red Tails got the birthday surprise of a lifetime. Leonard Yates, an original Tuskegee Airman, made a surprise visit to the young boy. Gates, who lives in Sacramento California flew to Idaho to surprise Quinn Thorne on his birthday. The boy was so inspired by the film that after seeing the movie he began asking African-American adults if they were Tuskegee Airmen.

Twin Falls, Idaho (KMVT-TV) In January, 4 and a half year old Quinn Thorne saw the movie “Red Tails” about the Tuskeegee Airmen in World War II with his dad, Navy veteran Glen Thorne. Even at Quinn’s young age, the movie made an incredible impact on him, and he began asking African American adults if they were Tuskeegee Airmen.

Glen Thorne says, “I’m amazed at how much passion he’s gotten out of it, but I’m not amazed that he’s retained the knowledge. His passion, he loves his military.”

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the U.S. military. They flew in the U.S. Army Air Corps’ 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group during World War II. They painted their P-51 Mustang airplanes’ tails red, which is where the name “Red Tails” comes from.

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