I did a little research and found some notable Red Tail Pilots
Benjamin Davis
Davis (1913-2002) was the first African-American in the 20th century
to graduate from West Point, and after graduating in Tuskegee's first cadet
class, he became one of the first African-Americans to serve as a flying
officer in the US Army Air Corps. He commanded the 332nd Fighter Group in 1943,
which became known as the best escort operators in the 15th Air Force. His
efforts to repel discrimination culminated in 1949 when the Air Force became
the first racially integrated branch of the U.S. Armed Services. In October 27,
1949, he was promoted to brigadier general, becoming the Air Force's first
black general.
Tuskegee Airman Spann Watson rose to level of Lieutenant Colonel
after the Air Force he joined the Federal Aviation Administration as an equal
opportunity specialist. A strong supporter of youth, he has been responsible
for more than 30 youngsters winning appointments to the three major service
academies. He has been instrumental in helping hundreds of minorities gain
employment, including 483 airline flight attendants and first-time pilots.
Indeed, it is a matter of historical record that, during the late 1940's, Spann
Watson played a key role in developing an integration plan for the Armed Forces
that became the nation's official policy.
Daniel "Chappie" James
(1920-1978)
James was the first African-American four-star general in the
history of the USAF. He became a member of the Tuskegee Airmen in July 1943,
and during the Korean Conflict he flew 101 combat missions in the P-51 and
F-80. In 1966, was named vice commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in
Thailand and flew 78 combat missions over North Vietnam.
It was interesting to note the influence of Eleanor
Roosevelt
The
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was very interested in the work at the
Tuskegee Institute, particularly in the aeronautical school. In 1941 she
visited Tuskegee Army Air Field and asked to take a flight with one of the
Tuskegee pilots. Although the Secret Service was anxious about the ride, flight
instructor Charles A. Anderson piloted Roosevelt over the skies of Alabama for
more than an hour. That flight proved for Roosevelt that blacks could fly
airplanes, and she did everything in her power to help them in that endeavor.
Roosevelt marked the occasion with a photograph of herself and Anderson, which
she promptly brought back to her husband, the President of the United States,
and successfully urged him to utilize the 99th Squadron in combat missions.
