1. By: Amy Xiao & Alix Sellers

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They came from every section of the country, with large numbers coming from New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. Each one possessed a strong personal desire to serve the U.S. at the best of his ability.

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People who had the physical and mental qualificationswere accepted for aviation cadet training and trained initially to be pilots, and later to bepilots, navigators, or bombardiers.

Most were college graduates or undergraduates. Others demonstrated their academic qualifications through comprehensive entrance examinations.

No standards were lowered for the pilots or any of the others who trained in operations, meteorology, intelligence, engineering, medicine or any of the other officer fields.

Enlisted members were trained to beaircraft and engine mechanics, armament specialists, radio repairmen, parachute riggers, control tower operators, policemen, administrative clerks and all of the other skills necessary to fully function as an Army Air Corps flying squadron or ground support unit.

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Trained pilots because of itscommitment to aeronautical training. It had facilities, engineering and technical instructors, and climate for year round flying. The first program finished in May 1940. As the program was expanded, it became the center for African American aviation in World War II.

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Tuskegee University was awarded the U.S. Army Air Corps contract to help train America's first Black military aviators because it had already invested in the development of an airfield, had a proven civilian pilot training program and its graduates performed highest on flight aptitude exams.

Moton Field is named for Tuskegee University's second President, Dr. Robert R. Moton who served with distinction from 1915-1935. The Airmen were delpoyed during the presidential administration of Dr. Frederick Douglas Patterson (1935-1953).

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The all-Black, 332nd Fighter Group consisted originally of four fighter squadrons, the 99th, the 100th, the 301st and the 302nd.

From 1940-1946, some 1,000 Black pilots were trained at Tuskegee.

The 99th Squadron distinguished itself by being awarded two Presidential Unit Citations (June-July 1943 and May 1944) for outstanding tactical air support and aerial combat in the 12th Air Force in Italy, before joining the 332nd Fighter Group.

The 332nd Fighter Group was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its longest bomber escort mission to Berlin, Germany, March 24, 1945. It destroyed three German ME-262 Jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters without losing any of the bombers or any of its own fighter aircraft to enemy fighters.

The 332nd Fighter Group had also distinguished itself in June 1944 when two of its pilots flying P-47 Thunderbolts discovered a German destroyer in the harbor of Trieste, Italy.

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5 men received the silver wings of Army Air Forces polots: George S. Roberts, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Charles H. BeBow, Jr., Mac Ross, adn Lemuel R. Custis

• completed standard Army flight clasroom instruction

• completed many hours of flying time

• marked milestone in US military Aviation

• first African-Americans to qualify as military pilots in any branch of the armed forces

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C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson earned his pilot's license in 1929 and became the first BlackAmerican to receive a commercial pilot's certificate in 1932, and, subsequently, to make a transcontinental flight.

Anderson is also well known as the pilot who flew Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, convincing her to encourage her husband to authorize military flight training at Tuskegee.

In 1948, President Harry Truman enacted Executive Order No. 9981 - directing equality of treatment and opportunity in all of the United States Armed Forces, which in time led to the end of racial segregation in the U.S. military forces.

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The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II. They proved conclusively that African Americans could fly and maintain sophisticated combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen's achievements, together with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for full integration of the U.S. military.

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These airmen fought two wars - one against a military force overseas and the other against racism at home and abroad.

These highly trained military officers were treated as "trainees" and denied access to the base officers' club, an act contradictory to Army regulations.

The unfair treatment and hostility continued at Godman Field and in early 1945, the group was transferred to Freeman Field, Indiana where the hostilities finally reached a climax.

When black officers tried to enter the Freeman Field Officers' Club, against direct orders for them to stay out, one hundred and three officers were arrested, charged with insubordination and ordered to face court martial.

The court martial proceedings were quickly dropped against one hundred of the officers; two officers eventually had their charges dropped and one officer, Lt. Roger "Bill" Terry, was convicted.

After the war in Europe ended in 1945, black airmen returned to the United States and faced continued racism and bigotry despite their outstanding war record.

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Over15,000 combat sorties (Including 6000+ for the 99th prior to July '44) 111German airplanes destroyed in the air 150German aircraft destroyed on the ground 950railcars, trucks, and other motor vehicles destroyed 1destroyer sunk by P-47 machine gun fire Sixty-sixpilots killed in action or accidents Thirty-twopilots downed and captured, POWs NO Bomberswere ever lost to Enemy Aircraft while being escorted 150Distinguished Flying Crosses earned 744Air Medals 8Purple Hearts 14Bronze Stars

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Airmen Overview . 2000. Web. 25 Mar. 2010..

History . Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., 2006. Web. 25 Mar. 2010..

Tuskegee Airmen Facts . Tuskegee University, 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010..

Tuskegee Airmen of World War II . 15 May 2007. Web. 25 Mar. 2010..

Tuskegee Airmen-A Salute to The "RED TAILS"Web. 25 Mar. 2010..