Due to the rigid pattern of racial segregation that prevailed in tile United States during World War II, 966 Black military aviators were trained at an isolated training complex near the town of Tuskegee, Alabama, and at Tuskegee Institute. Four hundred and fifty Black fighter pilots under the command of Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., (who was later to become the U.S. Air Force's first Black Lt. General) fought in the aerial war over North Africa, Sicily and Europe flying, in succession, P-40, P-39, P-47, and P-51 type aircraft. These gallant men flew 15,553 sorties and completed 1,578 missions with the 12th Tactical U.S. Army Air Force and the 15th Strategic U.S. Army Air Force.

They were called the "Schwartze Vogelmenschen" (Black Birdmen) by the Germans who both feared and respected them. White American bomber crews reverently referred to them as "The Black Redtail Angels" because of the identifying red paint on their tail assemblies and because of their reputation for not losing bombers to enemy fighters as they provided fighter escort to bombing missions over strategic targets in Europe.

The 99th Fighter Squadron, which had already distinguished itself over North Africa, Sicily, and Anzio, was joined with three more Black squadrons: the 100th, the 301st, and the 302nd, to be designated as the 332nd Fighter Group. From Italian bases they also destroyed enemy rail traffic, coast watching surveillance stations and hundreds of vehicles on air to ground strafing missions. Sixty-six of these pilots were killed in aerial combat while another thirty-two were shot down and captured as prisoners of war. These Black Airmen came home with 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Legions of Merit, and The Red Star of Yugoslavia.

Other Black pilots, navigators, bombadiers and crewmen who were trained for medium bombardment duty were formed into the four-squadron (B-25s) 477th Medium Bombardment Group. This group never entered combat because of the surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945. Significantly, the 477th’s demands for parity and recognition as competent military professionals combined with the magnificent wartime record of the 99th and the 332nd led to a reversal of the U.S. War Department's racial policies.

For every Black pilot there were ten other civilian or military black men and women on ground support duty. Many of these men and women remained in the military service during the post-World War II era and spearheaded the integration of the armed forces of the United States with their integration into the U.S. Air Force in 1949. Their success and achievement is evidenced by the elevation of three of these pioneers to flag rank: the late General Daniel "Chappie" James, our nation's first Black Four-Star General, Lt. General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., USAF, retired, and Major General Lucius Theus, USAF, retired.

Major achievements are attributable to many of those who returned to civilian life and earned positions of leadership and respect as businessmen, corporate executives, religious leaders, lawyers, doctors, bankers, educators and as political leaders.

Nearly thirty years of anonymity were ended in 1972 with the founding of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc, (TAI) at Detroit, Michigan. Organized as a non-political, non-military and non-profit national entity, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. exists primarily to motivate and inspire young Americans to become participants in our nation's society and its democratic process.

TAI's National Scholarship Fund and its Detroit Museum Project are currently the National Organization's high priority programs. $30,000 in scholarship grants were awarded across the nation, in 1986, to 26 young men and women who were pursuing careers in aviation or aerospace. The Detroit Chapter Museum Project, funded by a grant from the City of Detroit, and matching funds from TAI's thirty-chapter network, is located at historic Ft. Wayne and will serve as TAI's repository for its archives and memorabilia. A project to place a statue of a Black World War II pilot on the grounds of the USAF Academy is under development.

With thirty chapters located in major cities throughout the United States, England and Japan, the membership of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., is made up, principally of armed forces veterans and active duty personnel representing all the branches of the military. It also includes a growing number of civilians who demonstrate a sincere interest in enhancing the goals and objectives of the organization. All officers and directors of the organization serve without salary or fee.

Two Tuskegee Airman, both retired USAF Colonels, share the distinction of having flown combat missions as fighter pilots in World War II, the Korean War, and the War in Vietnam: Hannibal Cox and Charles McGee. Three other Tuskegee Airmen, Lt. Col. John “Mr. Death” Whitehead, USAF retired, and Lt. Col. Bill Holloman, USA retired, and Lt. Col. George Hardy, USAF retired, flew combat in Vietnam in other type aircraft.