Black servicemen of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) who trained at Alabama's Tuskegee Army Air Field in World War II. They constituted the first African American flying unit in the U.S. military. The first class trained at Tuskegee in 1941 became the 99th Pursuit Squadron, commanded by Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.. They flew their first mission in the Mediterranean in 1943. Later that year the army activated three more squadrons; joined with the 99th in 1944, they constituted the 332nd Fighter Group. The latter was the USAAF's only escort group that did not lose a bomber to enemy planes. A second black flying group, the 477th Bombardment Group, was established near the end of the war. In all, the Tuskegee Airmen flew 1,578 missions, destroyed 261 enemy aircraft, and won over 850 medals. (Britannica Concise Encyclopedia).
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The claim that they were the "only escort group that did not lose a bomber to enemy planes" however is not true. Detailed studying of post-mission reports conducted as late as 2006 show that about 25 bombers were lost to enemy fighters.
However this does not in any way detract from what was an exemplary service record by a much decorated and highly honoured group, who had a success rate in protecting bombers that was, at it's worst, as good as any other escort squadron.
Some bomber squadrons (perhaps not influenced by racial prejudice?), actually requested the "red-tailed angels" (so named as the tails on their planes were painted red) as escorts due to their excellent record in protecting the bombers they were escorting.
The Tuskegee airmen were at the opposite end of Europe, almost 2,000 miles from Normandy.
I doubt any of the airmen are still alive today.
Yes. He was a Lt. Col. With the 99th. I had the pleasure of meeting him some years ago
By the phrasing of your question I am going to assume you are referring to the number of African-American men who died during World War II whom were referred to as the Tuskegee Airman. The Tuskegee Airman were African-American pilots whom were part of the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps. During the time of the war, 992 pilots were trained in Tuskegee at this time and of those, 150 men lost their lives either to accidents during missions or in combat.
An airman is a male aircraft pilot, or a member of an air force.
The Tuskegee Airman were born in Alabama
Charles Dryden - Tuskegee Airman - was born on 1920-09-16.
Charles Dryden - Tuskegee Airman - died on 2008-06-24.
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the tuskegee airman were born in alabama
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The web address of the Tuskegee Airman National Historical Museum is: http://tuskegeeairmennationalmuseum.org
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