TUSKEGEE airmen
Despite limited opportunities, African Americans have played a significant role in U.S. military history over the past 300 years. They were denied military leadership roles and skilled training because many believed they lacked qualifications for combat duty. Before 1940, African Americans couldn't fly for the U.S. military. Civil rights organizations and the black press exerted pressure that resulted in the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1941. They became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. "Tuskegee Airmen" refers to the people who were involved in the so-called "Tuskegee Experiment," a Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air.
In 1936, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was the first African American to graduate from West Point Military Academy.
As one of the first graduates to get wings at Tuskegee Army Air Field in March 1942, Davis was assigned to the new 99th Fighter Squadron. By August, he became the squadron commander. The 99th left for North Africa early in 1943. The group did many combat missions under Davis' command. Davis returned to the U.S. in September 1943 to assume command of the 332nd Fighter Group. Maj. George S. "Spanky" Roberts remained in Europe and became the commanding officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron.
The 332nd fighter group was transferred to Italy in February 1944 where they did a outstanding combat record. The 332nd flew bomber escorts. In March 1945, Davis led the 332nd on a 1,600-mile round-trip escort mission to Berlin. During that mission, the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber, despite an onslaught of the latest and fastest enemy German planes. The 332nd won a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission. Davis had good leadership, and shows how brave he is in commanding the Tuskegee airmen. This is how he helped the 'Double V Campaign'.
In 1936, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was the first African American to graduate from West Point Military Academy.
As one of the first graduates to get wings at Tuskegee Army Air Field in March 1942, Davis was assigned to the new 99th Fighter Squadron. By August, he became the squadron commander. The 99th left for North Africa early in 1943. The group did many combat missions under Davis' command. Davis returned to the U.S. in September 1943 to assume command of the 332nd Fighter Group. Maj. George S. "Spanky" Roberts remained in Europe and became the commanding officer of the 99th Fighter Squadron.
The 332nd fighter group was transferred to Italy in February 1944 where they did a outstanding combat record. The 332nd flew bomber escorts. In March 1945, Davis led the 332nd on a 1,600-mile round-trip escort mission to Berlin. During that mission, the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber, despite an onslaught of the latest and fastest enemy German planes. The 332nd won a Distinguished Unit Citation for the mission. Davis had good leadership, and shows how brave he is in commanding the Tuskegee airmen. This is how he helped the 'Double V Campaign'.