Something special began July 19, 1941. For the first time in the history of military aviation, blacks were given an opportunity to prove themselves in the sky.
The first black aviators began their flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala., and went to the famed 99th Fighter Squadron.
The Tuskegee Airmen had to fight not only the Nazis, but the prejudices within their own military. Despite being allowed to fly, military aviation units were segregated by race.
Today, the heirs of their legacy take to the skies above Langley.
Captains Glenn Gonzales (pictured) and Alex Edwards are two black officers who fly F-15 Eagles in the 71st Fighter Squadron. While neither joined the Air Force because of the Tuskegee Airmen, they both agree hearing about the Tuskegee Airmen encouraged them to pursue their goals as pilots.
“I had an idea of who they were,†Captain Gonzales said. “But not to the extent of their contributions.â€
He said it was his training at the Air Force Academy that first opened his eyes to their impact.
“One of the quotes we had to learn was in regards to the Tuskegee Airmen,†he said.
“To be honest, it seemed that these guys were just like all of us. They were Airmen like the rest of us.â€
Captain Edwards first learned about the Tuskegee Airmen from the 1995 HBO movie, “The Tuskegee Airmen.â€
Aero-News Network
The first black aviators began their flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala., and went to the famed 99th Fighter Squadron.
The Tuskegee Airmen had to fight not only the Nazis, but the prejudices within their own military. Despite being allowed to fly, military aviation units were segregated by race.
Today, the heirs of their legacy take to the skies above Langley.
Captains Glenn Gonzales (pictured) and Alex Edwards are two black officers who fly F-15 Eagles in the 71st Fighter Squadron. While neither joined the Air Force because of the Tuskegee Airmen, they both agree hearing about the Tuskegee Airmen encouraged them to pursue their goals as pilots.
“I had an idea of who they were,†Captain Gonzales said. “But not to the extent of their contributions.â€
He said it was his training at the Air Force Academy that first opened his eyes to their impact.
“One of the quotes we had to learn was in regards to the Tuskegee Airmen,†he said.
“To be honest, it seemed that these guys were just like all of us. They were Airmen like the rest of us.â€
Captain Edwards first learned about the Tuskegee Airmen from the 1995 HBO movie, “The Tuskegee Airmen.â€
Aero-News Network
