Tuskegee Airmen (AL) (Images of Aviation)

Tuskegee Airmen (AL) (Images of Aviation)

In 1941, Tuskegee, Alabama, was selected as the site of an important new development in military training. For the first time, black Americans were to be allowed to serve their country as members of the United States Army Air Corps. During its five-year history, Tuskegee Army Air Field was home to almost 1,000 African-American pilots. More than 10,000 black men and women served as their vital support personnel. Together, they filled the ranks of the 99th Fighter Squadron, the 332nd Fighter Group, and the 477th Bombardment Group. Their remarkable achievements at home and overseas destroyed stereotypes and helped to bring about the eventual integration of the United States military. Under the harsh restrictions of segregation, the African-Americans both trained and served together, and in this forced isolation, developed unbreakable bonds . In The Tuskegee Airmen, Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly have composed an enduring homage to the groundbreaking achievements of these men and women. Using photos provided by the Tuskegee Airmen and their families, the Smithsonian Institution, and NASA, the authors bring to life the trials and triumphs of the Tuskegee Experience. In these more enlightened times, we can relive the struggles of those African-Americans who wanted to serve, who demanded equality, and who yearned to fly.