You know, I was just sitting here looking through my collection of movies when I ran across a movie called “The Tuskeegee Airmen” that really caugh my attention. For those of you that arent familiar with it, it a True movie about an all black fighter squadron identified as the 332nd, that fought in World War II against the German Luftwaffe. After watching this film, I started wondering…Does the Military still accept and train Black Airmen as Fighter Pilots? During my time in the military I think I can only remember seeing just one. For those of you that know, How might I go about gathering information about this. I’m sure that there has to be at least a handful in there. The last two Space Shuttles that exploded both had African American Astronauts on board, so I’m sure that if NASA is willing to train African American men as Astronauts, then there has to be at least a few Black Fighter Pilots scattered around.
I am a little speechless at your question; do you really think there is any way the US military could discriminate on the basis of race in the selection of its pilots, even if it was so inclined?
For the record, Captain Sheri Miller, an African-American woman, is a fighter pilot stationed on a US aircraft carrier. I am certain there are dozens, if not hundreds more, both men and women.
Ummm, yes there are black fighter pilots. Heck, I am friends with a guy who used to fly A-10s who is now doing an exchange tour with the Italian Air Force flying Tornadoes. Oh, he’s black, if that matters. Here’s a link to a story about the highest ranking black officer in the Air Force right now (a Lt Gen). Here’s a link to Chappie James, the first black 4-star general in the US Armed Forces.
The 99th FTS still exists, although it’s a training squadron now at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX. They fly the T-1 now and train instructor pilots. They’ve even painted some of the T-1s with red tails and wingtips in honor of their heritage, but I can’t find any pictures of the red-tail T-1s.
You are speaking of the 332nd Fighter Group, consisting of the 99th, 100th, 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons commanded by Col. Benjamin Davis who later became a General officer. The 477th heavy bomber group was also formed late in the war from the Tuskeegee graduates.
Search for ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ and you’ll find all the info you need.
And the armed forces now accept all comers who can meet the qualifications and have since Harry Truman integrated the armed forces in the late 1940’s although there was a hell of a lot of resistance at the time.
