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NEWS:

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Focus On: The Tuskegee Airmen

Between 1941 and 1946, roughly 1,000 black pilots were trained at a segregated air base in Tuskegee, Alabama. The most famous of the Tuskegee Airmen were the 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the “Red Tails” for the distinctive markings of their planes. The 99th Pursuit Squadron, later renamed the 99th Fighter Squadron, also distinguished themselves in combat. Together they flew more than 15,000 sorties and lost 66 men in the line of duty. Additional units, the 477th Bombardment Group and the 553rd Fighter Replacement Training Squadron, were activated during the war, but did not see combat.

The Tuskegee Airmen played a vital role in the African American war for “Double Victory” — victory over the Axis powers and victory over racism at home. In 1941 fewer than 4,000 African Americans were serving in the military. By 1945, more than 1.2 million African Americans would be serving in uniform on the Home Front, in Europe and the Pacific (including thousands of African American women). The United States Armed Forces were officially desegregated in 1948.

The Museum’s US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center will feature a restored P-51 Mustang painted with the Red Tails markings of the 332nd Fighter Group.

Learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen with our Focus On page, including oral histories, images, a fact sheet and more.

See a full schedule of events and other resources for Black History Month at The National WWII Museum.
 

Follow the War Day-By-Day

Follow us on Twitter @wwiitoday for regular updates on 70th anniversaries in America’s WWII story featuring images, oral histories and artifacts from the Museum’s collection.

Visit our calendar for information on upcoming programs and events at the Museum or sign up for our email list to receive regular updates.

 

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FEATURED EVENTS:

dividing bar Film Screening The Tuskegee Airmen History & Heritage Tour

They Were Expendable (1945)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Starring Robert Montgomery and John Wayne, this film is a dramatized account of the role of the American PT Boats in the defense of the Philippines in WWII.

 

Red Tails — the Tuskegee Airmen
Saturday, February 25, 2012
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Have fun building your own P-51 Mustang model plane while exploring the air war against Germany and learning about the Tuskegee Airmen.

 

New Orleans History and Heritage
March 1 – 4, 2012
Experience all the best that The Museum has to offer as well as the rich history and culture of New Orleans with our newest travel opportunity.

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WHAT'S ON:

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February 8, 2012
Film Screening: "They Were Expendable" (1945)
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Stage Door Canteen

February 8, 2012
The Victory Belles present "Lullaby of Broadway"
12:00 pm buffet seating
Stage Door Canteen
Broadway hits from the 1940s

February 14, 2012
The Victory Big Band presents "Valentine's Dine and Dance"
6:00 pm dinner seating, 8:00 pm show only ticket
Stage Door Canteen

February 15, 2012
Lunchbox Lecture
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Gemma Birnbaum presents "Double Victory: Black WWII Veterans and the Struggle for Civil Rights"

February 15, 2012
The Victory Belles present "Lullaby of Broadway"
12:00 pm buffet seating
Stage Door Canteen
Broadway hits from the 1940s

February 16, 2012
Virtual Field Trip
9:00 am – 10:00 am

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MUSEUM BLOG:

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New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics High School student Kalie Indest was one of 15 students selected to travel to Normandy, France this June. Kalie was selected by her teacher, Ms. Melanie Boulet, who will also be going on the trip. This trip is sponsored by National History Day and the Normandy Scholars Institute. Kalie [...] Read More

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February 4th marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Makassar Strait, in which an Allied surface fleet was attacked by a large formation of Japanese bombers. Although the battle itself was brief and the casualties on both sides were minor, Makassar Strait did have strategic consequences. The battle came about because of Japanese landings [...] Read More

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Of the eleven Fedele brothers from Rochester, New York, eight would serve in the US armed forces during World War II, and one would serve in Korea. Ranging in age in 1945 from to 19 to 37, all returned home safely after serving in nearly every branch of the armed forces, from Africa to Europe [...] Read More

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FEATURED VIDEO:

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FOCUS ON:

dividing bar Focus On: The Tuskegee Airmen

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

The Tuskegee Airmen played a vital role in the African American war for “Double Victory” — victory over the Axis powers and victory over racism at home. Their story is told through oral histories of "Red Tails" pilots and archival photos. Learn more.

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