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The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen

Due to the rigid pattern of segregation that prevailed in the United States during World War II, the training of 926 Black military aviators was concentrated at an isolated, specially constructed army airfield near Tuskegee, Alabama, and at Tuskegee Institute.

The first contingent of the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later designated as fighter squadron), was a group of enlisted technical and administrative specialists, who had been trained at the U. S. Army Air Corps Technical Training School at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois. These individuals established a superior grade point average during their training period April to November 1941.

Under the command of Colonel Benjamin 0. Davis, Jr. (later to become the United States Air Force's first Black Lieutenant General), 450 Black fighter pilots fought the aerial war over North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Southern France, and Europe. Flying P-40, P-39, P-47, and P-51 aircraft, these gallant men flew 16,553 sorties and completed 1,578 combat missions while assigned to the U.S. Army's XII (Tactical) and XV (Strategic) Air Forces. The 99th Fighter Squadron, already distinguished by its impressive combat record in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and over the Anzio beachhead, was joined by the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons, comprising the 332nd Fighter Group.

The Brief History of the Tuskegee Airmen (PDF) as revised by the Alonzo Smith, Jr, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.). is available in pdf format, you will need Acrobat Reader.

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