To celebrate the release of the hit film Red Tails, theGrio wants to celebrate the history of America’s first black military airmen who fought and died in WWII.
The Tuskegee Airmen used integrity, bravery, and talent to combat intense discrimination and break racial barriers.
The first aviation cadet class began in July 1941 at the Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee, Alabama. These 13 pilots completed their training in March 1942. For the next five years, more than 996 pilots graduated from TAAF
More than 400 of those black pilots trained served overseas in WWII — either in the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force.
Although many Tuskegee Airmen received numerous military merits and honors from the Army Air Corps, they were denied access to several military institutions. When black officers tried to enter the Freeman Field Officer’s Club, 103 officers were ordered to stay out. These men refused and were later charged with insubordination. However, on August 12, 1995, 15 out of 103 cases were dismissed from the Freeman Field case.