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TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
Who were the Tuskegee Airmen and what
  role did they play in World War II?
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
SS5H6 The student will explain the
reasons for America’s involvement in
World War II.
     e. Describe the effects of rationing and
the changing role of women and African-
Americans; include “Rosie the Riveter” and
the Tuskegee Airmen.
RACIAL INEQUALITY
“Separate but Equal” was a myth. Racial discrimination
  was reality. Separate, yes; equal, not in the least.
AFRICAN AMERICAN ROLES IN THE
              MILITARY

      World War I                     World War II
Restricted from combat.           Temporary desegregation called
African Americans were not used   for combat fighting on both
overseas. (US held territories)   fronts.
Limited number place in the
infantry. (Assigned to the        Infantry
French)                           Pilots
Most performed service duties     Nurses
         unloading ships
         transporting             Tankers
         burying the dead
PUBLIC LAW 18
      • April 3, 1939 Public Law 18 was passed
                 • Expand the Air Corps
 • A section within the law gave African Americans the
      opportunity for advancement within the military.
• A training program to be located within a black college
   would train blacks for services in a range of areas in
                       the Air Corps.
TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT
• African Americans allowed into flight school in 1941.
• “The Experiment”
• Segregated fighter squadron
• Provided training to black pilots, mechanics, and ground
  support
• Airfield adjacent to Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute.
BACKGROUND OF THE TUSKEGEE
OFFICIAL TRAINING FACILITY
               AIRMEN




                 • Founded in 1881 as a facility
                   to educate African Americans.
                 • Located in Tuskegee,
                   Alabama just a few miles east
                   of Montgomery.
THE AIRFIELD
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP
            • In 1941 Eleanor Roosevelt
              visits Tuskegee Institute.

            • She insists on an airplane
              ride with a black pilot.

            • Charles Anderson is her
              pilot.

            • History of the photo.
CORRESPONDENCE
AIRMEN AIRCRAFT
  • P-39 Airacobra
AIRMEN AIRCRAFT
 •P-40L “War Hawk”
AIRMEN AIRCRAFT
  • P-47 Thunderbolt
     • “Red Tails”
AIRMEN AIRCRAFT
   • P-51 Mustang
THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN
• Educated African Americans trained at Tuskegee
  Institute
• 99th squadron in Northern Africa
• The 332nd fighter group
• Shot down over 200 enemy planes during World War II.
• Had the lowest loss record of any fighter group.
• Changed African Americans’ status in the military and
  consequently, the nation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bryan, J. (2003). Fighting for respect: African American soldiers in
WWII. Retrieved from:
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/fightingforrespect.aspx

Carnegie Library at Tuskegee Institute. (1906). Retrieve from:
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-4391

Jim Crow Laws Image. Retrieve February 25, 2012, from:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAjimcrow.htm

Krause, L. (2001). Black soldiers in WW II: Fighting enemies at home and
abroad.
National Geographic News. Retrieved from:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0215_tuskegee.html
BIBLIOGRAPHY(CONTINUED)
Lee, U. (2000). The employment of negro troops. Retrieved from:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/

Liberman, A. (1943). United We Win, Retrieved from:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/united_we_win/images_html/un
ited_we_win.html

Marist College. (n.d.). The Tuskegee Airmen and Eleanor Roosevelt. Retrieved from:
http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/tuskegee.html

Raymond, M. (2009). Tuskegee AAF, Retrieved from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/optikalblitz/3524250556/
BIBLIOGRAPHY(CONTINUED)
Rice, M. (2000). Tuskegee Airmen: Lonely Eagles to Red Tail Angels. Retrieved from:
http://logicalthinker2.tripod.com/Tuskegeeaircraft.html

Tuskegee AAF. (1945) Retrieved from:
http://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/AL/Airfields_AL_Montgomery.htm

Tuskegee Airmen. (2011). In The Encyclopedia of Alabama.
http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-3154

West, J. (2005), Tuskegee Airmen and their B-25, Retrieved from:
http://www.indianamilitary.org/ATTERBURYAAF/Tuskegee%20Airmen/TuskeggeAirmen.htm

Wilson, J. E., Jr. (1998). World War II: 761st tank battalion. Historynet.com. Retrieved
from http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/chapter3.htm

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Tuskegee Airmen: Breaking Barriers in WWII

  • 2. ESSENTIAL QUESTION Who were the Tuskegee Airmen and what role did they play in World War II?
  • 3. PERFORMANCE STANDARD SS5H6 The student will explain the reasons for America’s involvement in World War II. e. Describe the effects of rationing and the changing role of women and African- Americans; include “Rosie the Riveter” and the Tuskegee Airmen.
  • 4.
  • 5. RACIAL INEQUALITY “Separate but Equal” was a myth. Racial discrimination was reality. Separate, yes; equal, not in the least.
  • 6. AFRICAN AMERICAN ROLES IN THE MILITARY World War I World War II Restricted from combat. Temporary desegregation called African Americans were not used for combat fighting on both overseas. (US held territories) fronts. Limited number place in the infantry. (Assigned to the Infantry French) Pilots Most performed service duties Nurses unloading ships transporting Tankers burying the dead
  • 7. PUBLIC LAW 18 • April 3, 1939 Public Law 18 was passed • Expand the Air Corps • A section within the law gave African Americans the opportunity for advancement within the military. • A training program to be located within a black college would train blacks for services in a range of areas in the Air Corps.
  • 8. TUSKEGEE EXPERIMENT • African Americans allowed into flight school in 1941. • “The Experiment” • Segregated fighter squadron • Provided training to black pilots, mechanics, and ground support • Airfield adjacent to Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute.
  • 9. BACKGROUND OF THE TUSKEGEE OFFICIAL TRAINING FACILITY AIRMEN • Founded in 1881 as a facility to educate African Americans. • Located in Tuskegee, Alabama just a few miles east of Montgomery.
  • 12. BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP • In 1941 Eleanor Roosevelt visits Tuskegee Institute. • She insists on an airplane ride with a black pilot. • Charles Anderson is her pilot. • History of the photo.
  • 14. AIRMEN AIRCRAFT • P-39 Airacobra
  • 15. AIRMEN AIRCRAFT •P-40L “War Hawk”
  • 16. AIRMEN AIRCRAFT • P-47 Thunderbolt • “Red Tails”
  • 17. AIRMEN AIRCRAFT • P-51 Mustang
  • 18. THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN • Educated African Americans trained at Tuskegee Institute • 99th squadron in Northern Africa • The 332nd fighter group • Shot down over 200 enemy planes during World War II. • Had the lowest loss record of any fighter group. • Changed African Americans’ status in the military and consequently, the nation.
  • 19. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bryan, J. (2003). Fighting for respect: African American soldiers in WWII. Retrieved from: http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/fightingforrespect.aspx Carnegie Library at Tuskegee Institute. (1906). Retrieve from: http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-4391 Jim Crow Laws Image. Retrieve February 25, 2012, from: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAjimcrow.htm Krause, L. (2001). Black soldiers in WW II: Fighting enemies at home and abroad. National Geographic News. Retrieved from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0215_tuskegee.html
  • 20. BIBLIOGRAPHY(CONTINUED) Lee, U. (2000). The employment of negro troops. Retrieved from: http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/ Liberman, A. (1943). United We Win, Retrieved from: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/powers_of_persuasion/united_we_win/images_html/un ited_we_win.html Marist College. (n.d.). The Tuskegee Airmen and Eleanor Roosevelt. Retrieved from: http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/tuskegee.html Raymond, M. (2009). Tuskegee AAF, Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/optikalblitz/3524250556/
  • 21. BIBLIOGRAPHY(CONTINUED) Rice, M. (2000). Tuskegee Airmen: Lonely Eagles to Red Tail Angels. Retrieved from: http://logicalthinker2.tripod.com/Tuskegeeaircraft.html Tuskegee AAF. (1945) Retrieved from: http://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/AL/Airfields_AL_Montgomery.htm Tuskegee Airmen. (2011). In The Encyclopedia of Alabama. http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-3154 West, J. (2005), Tuskegee Airmen and their B-25, Retrieved from: http://www.indianamilitary.org/ATTERBURYAAF/Tuskegee%20Airmen/TuskeggeAirmen.htm Wilson, J. E., Jr. (1998). World War II: 761st tank battalion. Historynet.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/11-4/chapter3.htm

Editor's Notes

  1. Photo from Spartacus InternationalPhoto from shomanchebat.com
  2. Due to racial discrimination African Americans in the military were not allowed to attend flight school until 1941.Those finally permitted to participate in the flight training were part of what the military called an “experiment.”The experiment was to create a segregated fighter squadron and provide aviation training to black pilots, mechanics, and ground support.The experiment took place at the airfield adjacent to Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute.
  3. Experiment site
  4. Images of the facility
  5. Eleanor Roosevelt insisted on having her photograph taken with Charles Anderson when she visited Tuskegee Institute. She also insisted that the photograph be developed before she left Alabama. She and Charles continued to correspond with each other after her visit.
  6. Scan of documentThis is a telegraph that Charles Anderson sent to Eleanor Roosevelt. In the telegraph, Mrs. Roosevelt was credited as being a major part of the program moving from being called The Tuskegee Experiment to the pilots being known as The Tuskegee Airmen.
  7. When the Tuskegee Airmen in the 99th Fighter Squadron arrived in North Africa, they flew the Curtiss P-40L War Hawk.When the men of the 332nd Fighter Group arrived in Taranto, Italy, they were initially assigned the task of coastal patrol flying an obsolete aircraft the Bell P-39 Airacobra
  8. In May, 1944 the 332nd Fighter Group under the command of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis were assigned to fly escort missions with the 306th Wing of the 15th Fighter Command. They were given the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, affectionately called "The Jug" because of its shape. P-47's were well armed and could perform well at high altitude in the escort role as well as ground attack aircraft. The pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group painted the tails of their P-47's red, thus their nickname "Red Tails". Their reputation for protecting bombers would slaowly grow and later bomber crews would affectionately call them Red-Tail Angels.
  9. The main fighter flown by the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group from 1944 until the end of the war was the North American P-51 Mustang fighter. The P-51 was the best all around fighter produced by the United States during World War II and was flown in both the European and Pacific Theaters.