8/18/2019 Tuskegee Airmen were the favored escorts of WWII bomber pilots

1/2

Tuskegee Airmen were the favored escorts of WWII bomber pilots

Today (12/22/14) the United States lost another incredible member of the Greatest Generation whenLowell Steward passed away from natural causes at the age of 95. One of the most incredibleaccomplishments for which he rightfully deserves to be remembered is the fact he was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Following his graduation from Santa Barbara College in 1941 with a degree in business, Steward joined the Army Air Corps and received training at Tuskegee Army Air Field located in Alabama.When he completed his training, he joined the 100th Fighter Squadron in Italy, where he completed143 missions and won the Distinguished Flying Cross among other awards. The Distinguished FlyingCross is awarded to any person, while serving in any capacity with the Air Corps of the Army of theUnited States, including the National Guard and the Organized Reserves, or with the United StatesNavy, who distinguishes him/herself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating inan aerial flight. Other noted recipients are Charles Lindberg and Richard E. Byrd.

- - - - -

As Americas airmen, sailors, soldiers and Marines bravely went up against enemies in Europe andthe Pacific, the Tuskegee Airmen faced off against an additional enemy. To understand that enemy,we need to turn back the hands of time and see what they were up against and how they handled it.

In July 1941, the Army Air Corps added a new component to its framework. This group of determined and dedicated individuals became Americas first black military pilots. Team memberscame from the cities of Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.The majority of these individuals either held college degrees or had successfully completed anumber of college hours. Others on the team had no college experience; however, they successfullycompleted a comprehensive entrance exam.

The Tuskegee Airmen were required to meet the same mental and physical standards as other pilots.Those who did not qualify to be pilots were trained for such positions as aircraft mechanics, radiorepairmen and control tower operators in order to outfit a fully functioning squadron for the Army

Air Corps.

The first pilot class consisted of thirteen students. Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., a graduate of WestPoint Academy, was one of five who successfully completed the course and received the silver wingsof the Army Air Corps. By 1946, 996 pilots had graduated. 450 of these went on to serve overseas inthe 332nd Fighter Group or the 99th Pursuit Squadron. They flew combat missions over Italy, North

Africa and Sicily. In July 1944, the pilots of the 99th Pursuit Squadron were merged into the 332ndFighter Group.

While their Caucasian counterparts focus was centered on fighting World War II, the Tuskegee

Airmen fought two wars World War II and racism. The Airmen stationed atSelfridge Field inMichigan, though highly trained officers, were treated as "trainees" and denied entrance to theofficers club on base; a contradiction to Army regulations. The disagreement resulted in the Airmenbeing transferred to Godman Field in Kentucky.

8/18/2019 Tuskegee Airmen were the favored escorts of WWII bomber pilots

2/2

The unfair attitudes they confronted in Michigan were waiting for them in Kentucky; thus they weretransferred to Freeman Field in Indiana. Once again, the black pilots attempted to enter the officersclub, which was their right as fully commissioned officers, only to meet with hostilities. This time,103 of the Airmen were arrested and ordered to face court martial. The charges against 100 of the

Airmen were quickly dropped. Two others saw their charges dropped a bit later and one officer, Lt.Roger "Bill" Terry, was convicted.

In 1945, the war in Europe ended and the Airmen returned to the United States. Though the warthey had bravely fought in the European theater was now over, their other war continued. Uponreturning home, the Tuskegee Airmen were again faced with the problem of bigotry and racism. Forsome reason, society was unable to see the outstanding war record the Airmen possessed because itrefused to look past the color of their skin. Many of the Airmen elected to remain in the service;however they were confined to either the 332nd Fighter Group or the 447th Composite Group. Thelimited opportunities for advancement and promotion took a toll on the groups morale; but the

Airmen maintained their record of superb performance.

During 1947, the newest branch of the military, the United States Air Force, began plans tointegrate its units. This could not come too soon because a large number of white units foundthemselves severely undermanned and were in dire need of the skills and training their black counterparts offered.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed ExecutiveOrder 9981, ending segregation in the US military. Thisalso led to the beginning of racial integrationthroughout the United States.

On August 12, 1995, fifteen of the surviving officers whohad previously faced court martial met in Atlanta,Georgia during the Tuskegee Airmen NationalConvention. Here they received official notificationstating references regarding Freeman Field had beenfully purged from their records. In addition, Bill Terrysconviction was reversed and his record cleared.

President George W. Bush honored the Tuskegee

Airmen in the Capitol Rotunda on March 29, 2007during the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony. Thismedal is the most prestigious Congress offers. Amongthose present were Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson and Dr.Roscoe Brown. During his remarks, President Bushcommented, Even the Nazis asked, 'Why would African-American men fight for Escorts in North Goaa country that treated them so unfairly?' In Escorts in North Goa attendance was Airmen JosephPhilip Gomer, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth. Gomer provided this response to the question:

"We're all Americans. That's why we chose to fight. I'm as American as anybody. My black ancestors

were brought over here, perhaps against their will, to help build America. My German ancestorscame over to build a new life. And my Cherokee ancestors were here to greet all the boats." JosephPhilip Gomer

https://setiathome.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=162005http://www.lib.ksu.edu.tw:8080/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1473487&sid=6914030a401c99caca4a981141007a9bhttp://www.lib.ksu.edu.tw:8080/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1473487&sid=6914030a401c99caca4a981141007a9bhttps://setiathome.berkeley.edu/team_display.php?teamid=162005