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Military & Service
The Tuskegee Airmen
Born 1941
Fact
Never lost a single bomber to enemy fighters
Fact
Flew 15,000 sorties, earned over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses
Fact
Nearly 1,000 pilots and 15,000 support personnel served
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the US Armed Forces, serving with extraordinary distinction in WWII while facing relentless racism from their own military. The 332nd Fighter Group, the Red Tails, compiled one of the most impressive combat records of any fighter group in the war.
They flew over 15,000 sorties, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft, and earned over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses. They never lost a single bomber they escorted to enemy fighters.
Their success was a direct refutation of racist military policies and contributed to President Truman 1948 executive order desegregating the armed forces.
We fought two wars — one against the enemy abroad and one against racism at home.— The Tuskegee Airmen
Key Milestones
A Life in Firsts
1941
Tuskegee Army Air Field established
1943
99th Fighter Squadron deployed to North Africa
1944
332nd begins bomber escort missions as Red Tails
1945
Completes 1,578 combat missions
1948
Success contributes to military desegregation
2007
Awarded Congressional Gold Medal
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