The Tuskegee Airmen

Paper Summary:

This paper focuses on the continuing segregation, humiliation and stereotypes of African-Americans, and more specifically the Tuskegee Airmen, during their service in World War II. The paper proposes that despite the treatment the Tuskegee Airmen faced, they served admirably and thus helped set the stage for the desegregation of the United States Armed service.

From the Paper:

"The 99th Fighter Pursuit Squadron finally got their orders to report overseas in April of 1943 where they were assigned to help support the invasion of Sicily. Their main mission however remained one of limited contact with the enemy as their major responsibility was strafing of enemy targets which limited their air to air combat record. This lack of air to air combat record along with the squadron's transition to active combat would lead to major problems not only for the black airmen of the 99th but it would also raise the question about the role blacks would play in future operations."
"The problem for the 99th came in the form of their first combat evaluation penned by Colonel William Momyer in which he severely criticized the performance and disposition of the 99th and its personnel. In his report Moymer states: "The ability to work and fight as a team has not yet been acquired. [...] Their formation flying has been very satisfactory until jumped by enemy aircraft. This has been repeatedly been brought to the attention of the squadron, but attempts to correct this deficiency so far have been unfruitful [...] The unit shows a lack of aggressive spirit that is necessary for a well-organized fighter squadron [...] Based on the performance of the 99th Fighter Squadron to date, it is my opinion they are not of the flying caliber of any squadron in the group.[...] It may be expected that we will get less work and less operation time out of the 99th Fighter Squadron than any squadron in this Group" ( qtd. in Osur p.48)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Butler, John and Charles Moskos. All That We Can Be. New York: HarperCollins Pub, 1996.
• Combat Edge "Combat Records for the Tuskegee Airmen" Combat Edge. Feb 2001 9.9 Davis, Benjamin, O. American. Washington: Smithsonian Press, 1991.
• Brown, Joh, Deborah Elder and Christopher Farley. "Winning the Right to Fly". Time June 1995 146.9
• Carter, Herbert, E. "The Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen." Nation Forum 75.4 (Fall 1995) p.10-16
• Medley, Keith, W. "On Clipped Wings" Smithsonian. May 2004 35.2

More papers on The Tuskegee Airmen:

• Essay # 35138 : "The Tuskegee Airmen"
• Essay # 67516 : "Ethics in the Military"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 105966 : "Black Men during World War II"

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