Red Tails
The Tuskegee Airmen
According to researcher and Tuskegee Airman Theopolis W. Johnson, the term “Tuskegee Airmen” came into existence on 15 May 1955 with the publication of “The Tuskegee Airmen: The Story of the Negro in the U.S. Air Force” by Charles E. Francis. Prior to that date, they were known as the “Red Tails".
The 332nd was the only US fighter group in which all pilots, ground crews and support personnel were Negroes. The first flying cadets were inducted into the Army Air Corps in July of 1941. Tuskegee Army Air Field was constructed especially for them adjacent to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, hence the moniker.
The 332nd was the only US fighter group in which all pilots, ground crews and support personnel were Negroes. The first flying cadets were inducted into the Army Air Corps in July of 1941. Tuskegee Army Air Field was constructed especially for them adjacent to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, hence the moniker.
America's Fighting Red Tails
Johnson who piloted B-25s with the 477th BG, points out that the “Tuskegee Experience” was originally called the “Tuskegee Experiment” and was conducted by the U.S. War Department and the Army Air Corps from 1941-1949 to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The pilot training program should not be confused with the “Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment” which was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932-1972. (Source: The Tuskegee News)
The airmen selected for the experiment had an uphill fight to overcome segregation and racial prejudice. In the end they proved without doubt that African Americans had the ability to fly and maintain state-of-the-art combat aircraft. Despite efforts of bigoted senior Army officers and politicians history would prove the Tuskegee Airmen to be one of the most outstanding fighter groups of World War II. Their determination and achievements paved the way for the full integration of the U.S. military.
The first squadron to be formed was the 99th. In February 1942 a second squadron, the 100th was formed. In April 1943, the 99th FS deployed to North Africa where they began combat operations as part of the 12th Air Force while the 100th FS remained in the States to form the nucleus of the 332nd FG.
From April 1943 to June 1944 the 99th FS, flying P-40 Warhawks, was attached at different times to several all white fighter groups. On July 3, 1944 the 99th FS was absorbed into the 332nd FG which had been flying combat operations since February. The 332nd FG now consisted of the 99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons. Based at Ramitelli in Italy, it was the only four-squadron fighter group in the USAAF.
Concurrent with the addition of the 99th, the Group re-equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang and began flying combat missions. It was the last fighter group in the 15th Air Force to be equipped with the P-51 Mustang and was assigned fewer missions and thus had less opportunity to contact the enemy.The 332nd painted the tail surfaces of their Mustangs red with red spinners. A 12 inch band aft of the the spinner was different colour for each of the squadrons. The first mission that all four squadrons operated together as a group was on 18, July 1944.
Despite the unfair attitudes and opinions of its detractors at home and in the combat theatre there was a keen esprit de corps and morale remained high throughout the war. Luke Weathers an accomplished pilot of the 302nd FS resolved his war on two fronts in his own way. “Each mission I flew, each bomb I dropped and every bullet I fired at the Nazis was also directed against racism and white supremacy in America.”
Johnson who piloted B-25s with the 477th BG, points out that the “Tuskegee Experience” was originally called the “Tuskegee Experiment” and was conducted by the U.S. War Department and the Army Air Corps from 1941-1949 to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The pilot training program should not be confused with the “Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment” which was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932-1972. (Source: The Tuskegee News)
The airmen selected for the experiment had an uphill fight to overcome segregation and racial prejudice. In the end they proved without doubt that African Americans had the ability to fly and maintain state-of-the-art combat aircraft. Despite efforts of bigoted senior Army officers and politicians history would prove the Tuskegee Airmen to be one of the most outstanding fighter groups of World War II. Their determination and achievements paved the way for the full integration of the U.S. military.
The first squadron to be formed was the 99th. In February 1942 a second squadron, the 100th was formed. In April 1943, the 99th FS deployed to North Africa where they began combat operations as part of the 12th Air Force while the 100th FS remained in the States to form the nucleus of the 332nd FG.
From April 1943 to June 1944 the 99th FS, flying P-40 Warhawks, was attached at different times to several all white fighter groups. On July 3, 1944 the 99th FS was absorbed into the 332nd FG which had been flying combat operations since February. The 332nd FG now consisted of the 99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons. Based at Ramitelli in Italy, it was the only four-squadron fighter group in the USAAF.
Concurrent with the addition of the 99th, the Group re-equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang and began flying combat missions. It was the last fighter group in the 15th Air Force to be equipped with the P-51 Mustang and was assigned fewer missions and thus had less opportunity to contact the enemy.The 332nd painted the tail surfaces of their Mustangs red with red spinners. A 12 inch band aft of the the spinner was different colour for each of the squadrons. The first mission that all four squadrons operated together as a group was on 18, July 1944.
Despite the unfair attitudes and opinions of its detractors at home and in the combat theatre there was a keen esprit de corps and morale remained high throughout the war. Luke Weathers an accomplished pilot of the 302nd FS resolved his war on two fronts in his own way. “Each mission I flew, each bomb I dropped and every bullet I fired at the Nazis was also directed against racism and white supremacy in America.”
The Tuskegee Airmen flew their last mission of WWII on 30 April 1945. They were credited with 112 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air and 150 on the ground.
Three Tuskegee Airmen — Captain Edward L. Toppins of the 99th FS, Captain Joseph D. Elsberry of the 301st FS and 1st Lt. Lee A. Archer of the 302nd FS — shot down four enemy planes apiece. No Tuskegee Airman ever achieved “Ace” status although Archer is considered by many to be the only Red Tail ace. The contention is draped in controversy because of a dispute over the all important fifth aerial victory and the American Fighter Aces Association has declared him an "Honorary Ace". Red Tails were also credited with the sinking of an enemy destroyer using only machine gun fire.
Although there have been claims that the 332nd never lost a bomber to enemy fighters it is in fact not true. The Tuskegee Airmen did lose several U.S. bombers to enemy attacks during escort missions. However, their escort capabilities were second to none and they had one of the best, if not the best bomber protection records compared to other 15th Fighter Command units. They were specifically requested by bomber crews because of their low loss record.
The Tuskegee Airmen flew their last mission of WWII on 30 April 1945. They were credited with 112 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air and 150 on the ground. The 332nd FG was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations over Germany on 24 March 1945.
Tuskegee Army Air Field operated until August 20, 1946 when it was decommissioned. The Red Tails moved to Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio and were renamed the 332nd Fighter Wing. On 26 July 1948 President Harry Truman signed Executive Order No. 9981 desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces. The 332nd was taken off operational status on 1 June 1949 and deactivated, with its members distributed throughout other units in the USAF.
Three Tuskegee Airmen — Captain Edward L. Toppins of the 99th FS, Captain Joseph D. Elsberry of the 301st FS and 1st Lt. Lee A. Archer of the 302nd FS — shot down four enemy planes apiece. No Tuskegee Airman ever achieved “Ace” status although Archer is considered by many to be the only Red Tail ace. The contention is draped in controversy because of a dispute over the all important fifth aerial victory and the American Fighter Aces Association has declared him an "Honorary Ace". Red Tails were also credited with the sinking of an enemy destroyer using only machine gun fire.
Although there have been claims that the 332nd never lost a bomber to enemy fighters it is in fact not true. The Tuskegee Airmen did lose several U.S. bombers to enemy attacks during escort missions. However, their escort capabilities were second to none and they had one of the best, if not the best bomber protection records compared to other 15th Fighter Command units. They were specifically requested by bomber crews because of their low loss record.
The Tuskegee Airmen flew their last mission of WWII on 30 April 1945. They were credited with 112 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air and 150 on the ground. The 332nd FG was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations over Germany on 24 March 1945.
Tuskegee Army Air Field operated until August 20, 1946 when it was decommissioned. The Red Tails moved to Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio and were renamed the 332nd Fighter Wing. On 26 July 1948 President Harry Truman signed Executive Order No. 9981 desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces. The 332nd was taken off operational status on 1 June 1949 and deactivated, with its members distributed throughout other units in the USAF.
Lt. Charles P. Bailey 99th Fighter Squadron
Charles P. Bailey was the first black aviator from Florida to become a Tuskegee Airman. He is credited with two aerial victories, a Focke-Wulf-190 in “Josephine,” a P-40 Warhawk named for his mother, and later a Messerschmitt Me 109 in “My Buddy,” a P-51 Mustang named for his father.
Bailey scored his first of two victories while covering the allied amphibious landings at Anzio, Italy. “At 1425 hours on the afternoon of Jan. 27, 1944 Lt. Bailey caught an FW-190 headed in the general direction of Rome with a 45-degree deflection shot. The pilot was seen to bail out.”
The Fighting 99th converted to the P-51 in July 1944. Ten days after checking out in the new fighter Lt. Bailey splashed another FW 190. On July 18, 1944 the 99th Fighter Squadron flew its second combat mission as part of the 15th Air Force. During that mission the Red Tails of the 332nd FG knocked down Twelve enemy fighters. Capt. Edward L. Toppins and Lt. Charles P. Bailey were the only pilots from the 99th to score victories that day destroying one Focke Wulf fighter apiece. Lt. Bailey flew a total of 133 missions in the MTO. Bailey received the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on May 12, 1945.
Bailey scored his first of two victories while covering the allied amphibious landings at Anzio, Italy. “At 1425 hours on the afternoon of Jan. 27, 1944 Lt. Bailey caught an FW-190 headed in the general direction of Rome with a 45-degree deflection shot. The pilot was seen to bail out.”
The Fighting 99th converted to the P-51 in July 1944. Ten days after checking out in the new fighter Lt. Bailey splashed another FW 190. On July 18, 1944 the 99th Fighter Squadron flew its second combat mission as part of the 15th Air Force. During that mission the Red Tails of the 332nd FG knocked down Twelve enemy fighters. Capt. Edward L. Toppins and Lt. Charles P. Bailey were the only pilots from the 99th to score victories that day destroying one Focke Wulf fighter apiece. Lt. Bailey flew a total of 133 missions in the MTO. Bailey received the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on May 12, 1945.
Lt. George Hardy 99th Fighter Squadron
Lt. George Hardy flew with the 99th FS, 332nd FG in 1945. His assigned aircraft was "Tall in the Saddle" which had originally had belonged to Captain Wendell Lucas.
Hardy joined the 99th in April 1945. He was just 19 years of age and had arrived as a replacement pilot. He flew flew as a wingman on 21 combat missions, most of them were high altitude escort missions but some of them were also strafing missions. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Lt. Hardy returned to the states in August 1945 and was discharged in November 1946. He returned to active duty in June 1948 as a P-47 pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.
After the Air Force desegregated in July 1949, Hardy was reassigned to the 19th Bomb Group (B-29s) on the island of Guam. During the Korean War the 19th BG moved to Okinawa and flew bombing missions over Korea. George flew 45 combat missions over Korea. He was rated as a Command Pilot in September 1959.
During the Vietnam War Hardy was assigned to the 18th Special Operations Squadron at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam from April 1970 to April 1971. He was the Operating Location Commander at Udorn, Thailand and then as Operating Location Commander at Danang AB, Vietnam he flew 70 combat missions in AC-119K Gunships over Northern Laos and along the Ho Chi Min Trail. Lt. Col Hardy retired from the Air Force in November 1971. His career decorations include the DFC with Valour, and the Air Medal with 11 OLC.
Hardy joined the 99th in April 1945. He was just 19 years of age and had arrived as a replacement pilot. He flew flew as a wingman on 21 combat missions, most of them were high altitude escort missions but some of them were also strafing missions. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Lt. Hardy returned to the states in August 1945 and was discharged in November 1946. He returned to active duty in June 1948 as a P-47 pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.
After the Air Force desegregated in July 1949, Hardy was reassigned to the 19th Bomb Group (B-29s) on the island of Guam. During the Korean War the 19th BG moved to Okinawa and flew bombing missions over Korea. George flew 45 combat missions over Korea. He was rated as a Command Pilot in September 1959.
During the Vietnam War Hardy was assigned to the 18th Special Operations Squadron at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam from April 1970 to April 1971. He was the Operating Location Commander at Udorn, Thailand and then as Operating Location Commander at Danang AB, Vietnam he flew 70 combat missions in AC-119K Gunships over Northern Laos and along the Ho Chi Min Trail. Lt. Col Hardy retired from the Air Force in November 1971. His career decorations include the DFC with Valour, and the Air Medal with 11 OLC.
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. CO 332nd Fighter Group
Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was born in Washington, D.C., in 1912. He graduated from U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1936 with a commission as a second lieutenant of infantry. In May 1941 he entered Advanced Flying School at Tuskegee Army Air Base and received his pilot wings in March 1942.
Davis was made CO of the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee Army Air Field and deployed with his unit to North Africa in April 1943. The 99th flew its first combat mission in P-40L type aircraft on a patrol over the Mediterranean Sea. At this juncture they were attached to the 33rd Fighter Group. They were tasked with ground support, fighter-bomber missions as well as escorting bombers. A month later on the first of July Lt. Charles B. Hall of Brazil Indiana scored the first victory for the squadron when he shot down an FW-190 while escorting B-25 medium bombers on a raid to Castelvetrano in south-western Sicily. Lt. W. I. "Ace" Lawson also claimed the probable destruction of another FW-190 and damaged an Me-109.
In late August after less than three months in combat, Davis was sent back to the United States. He arrived home and found there was a move to prevent the further use of black pilots in combat. Senior white officers in the Army Air Forces had recommended Army chief of staff, General George Marshall, that the 99th be removed from combat operations citing a poor performance record. Davis was ordered to testify on 16 October 1943 before the Senate Advisory Committee in Washington DC where he was grilled with charges of the alleged poor performance of his men. Davis effectively fielded the questions but General Marshall ordered an inquiry while allowing the 99th to remain in combat. The inquiry eventually reported that the 99th's performance was comparable to other air units, but any questions about the squadron's fitness were answered on 27 January 1944 when its pilots shot down 10 Nazi planes over the Anzio Beachead and followed those victories with a further three the following day.
Meanwhile it was decided to allow Lt. Col. Davis to take the all black 332d Fighter Group which was based at Selfridge Field, Michigan into combat. On 3 January 1944 the 332d Fighter Group and its three fighter squadrons, the 100th , 301st , and 302nd, departed Hampton Roads, Virginia on four ships in a convoy headed for the Mediterranean. The 332nd were based at first based at Montecorvino Italy and began flying operations on 5 February 1944 in the Bell P-39 Aircobra, In they moved to Capodichino and converted to the P-47 Thunderbolt. Finally, in May 1944 they were assigned to the 15th Air Force and moved to Ramitelli, Italy where they were joined by the 99th FS making the 332nd the only four squadron group in the USAAF. In June they converted to the P-51 Mustang. Known as the "Red Tails" because of the colour they painted the tails of their aeroplanes the 332nd established a bomber protection record that was second to none.
By the end of the war the Tuskegee Airmen had compiled an outstanding combat record. They flew more than 15,000 sorties, shot down 112 enemy planes, and destroyed or damaged 273 on the ground at a cost of 66 of their own planes while losing very few bombers to enemy fighters. Colonel Davis led by example and continued flying combat missions right up to the end of hostilities. He remained in the Air Force after the war and again flew combat missions in the F-86 Sabre in Korea. In 1953 he assumed command of the51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. He retired from active military service on February 1, 1970. On December 9, 1998, Davis Jr. was promoted to general, U.S. Air Force (retired), with President Bill Clinton pinning on his four-star insignia. He passed away on 4 July 2002.
General Davis' military decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Philippine Legion of Honour. He was a command pilot.
Davis was made CO of the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee Army Air Field and deployed with his unit to North Africa in April 1943. The 99th flew its first combat mission in P-40L type aircraft on a patrol over the Mediterranean Sea. At this juncture they were attached to the 33rd Fighter Group. They were tasked with ground support, fighter-bomber missions as well as escorting bombers. A month later on the first of July Lt. Charles B. Hall of Brazil Indiana scored the first victory for the squadron when he shot down an FW-190 while escorting B-25 medium bombers on a raid to Castelvetrano in south-western Sicily. Lt. W. I. "Ace" Lawson also claimed the probable destruction of another FW-190 and damaged an Me-109.
In late August after less than three months in combat, Davis was sent back to the United States. He arrived home and found there was a move to prevent the further use of black pilots in combat. Senior white officers in the Army Air Forces had recommended Army chief of staff, General George Marshall, that the 99th be removed from combat operations citing a poor performance record. Davis was ordered to testify on 16 October 1943 before the Senate Advisory Committee in Washington DC where he was grilled with charges of the alleged poor performance of his men. Davis effectively fielded the questions but General Marshall ordered an inquiry while allowing the 99th to remain in combat. The inquiry eventually reported that the 99th's performance was comparable to other air units, but any questions about the squadron's fitness were answered on 27 January 1944 when its pilots shot down 10 Nazi planes over the Anzio Beachead and followed those victories with a further three the following day.
Meanwhile it was decided to allow Lt. Col. Davis to take the all black 332d Fighter Group which was based at Selfridge Field, Michigan into combat. On 3 January 1944 the 332d Fighter Group and its three fighter squadrons, the 100th , 301st , and 302nd, departed Hampton Roads, Virginia on four ships in a convoy headed for the Mediterranean. The 332nd were based at first based at Montecorvino Italy and began flying operations on 5 February 1944 in the Bell P-39 Aircobra, In they moved to Capodichino and converted to the P-47 Thunderbolt. Finally, in May 1944 they were assigned to the 15th Air Force and moved to Ramitelli, Italy where they were joined by the 99th FS making the 332nd the only four squadron group in the USAAF. In June they converted to the P-51 Mustang. Known as the "Red Tails" because of the colour they painted the tails of their aeroplanes the 332nd established a bomber protection record that was second to none.
By the end of the war the Tuskegee Airmen had compiled an outstanding combat record. They flew more than 15,000 sorties, shot down 112 enemy planes, and destroyed or damaged 273 on the ground at a cost of 66 of their own planes while losing very few bombers to enemy fighters. Colonel Davis led by example and continued flying combat missions right up to the end of hostilities. He remained in the Air Force after the war and again flew combat missions in the F-86 Sabre in Korea. In 1953 he assumed command of the51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. He retired from active military service on February 1, 1970. On December 9, 1998, Davis Jr. was promoted to general, U.S. Air Force (retired), with President Bill Clinton pinning on his four-star insignia. He passed away on 4 July 2002.
General Davis' military decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Philippine Legion of Honour. He was a command pilot.
"Portrait of Tuskegee Airman Lt. John Morgan"
Graphite on textured paper 31 x 42 cm. $450.00 Contact us to purchase.
Lt Morgan flew P-40s with the 99th Fighter Squadron. He was killed on 2 January 1944.
Graphite on textured paper 31 x 42 cm. $450.00 Contact us to purchase.
Lt Morgan flew P-40s with the 99th Fighter Squadron. He was killed on 2 January 1944.