# African American Fighter Pilots...Are there any left? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352 "2004-05-03T21:49:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/1 "2004-05-03T21:49:14Z")
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. Anyone here have any info on this? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/2 "2004-05-03T22:25:28Z")
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](http://www.powertolearn.com/themes_whm/lp_contemp.html), 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. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/3 "2004-05-03T22:35:16Z")
Not to mention [Lieutenant Commander Keith Huskiness](http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0402/23/lol.04.html): > [@](#): > > Black History Month is winding down, but there’s still time to note the fact that in 2004, in small steps and giant leaps, black history is still being made. Just ask Lieutenant Commander Keith Huskiness, U.S. Navy. Huskiness is a rising start at, , the U.S. strategic command in Omaha, Nebraska. He’s also the **first African-American solo pilot for the Navy’s elite Blue Angels**. But even that barely skims his resume, which includes \*\*60-plus combat missions in Iraq \*\* as part of Strike Fighter Squadron 25, the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of the fleet. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/4 "2004-05-03T22:59:04Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > 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](http://www.powertolearn.com/themes_whm/lp_contemp.html), 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. No, I was not stating (or attempting to emphasize) that at all, I just merely asked a question 🙂 Thanks for the link 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/5 "2004-05-04T00:34:41Z")
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](http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2004/n02102004_200402101.html) to a story about the highest ranking black officer in the Air Force right now (a Lt Gen). Here’s a [link](http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/djames.htm) to Chappie James, the first black 4-star general in the US Armed Forces. The [99th FTS](http://www.randolph.af.mil/12ftw/12og/99fts/index_99history.htm) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/6 "2004-05-04T01:27:25Z")
Although most pilots in the US are still white males, there are pilots of all races (and genders) at all levels of aviaton. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/7 "2004-05-04T02:41:13Z")
> [@Starguard](#): > > 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. > > Anyone here have any info on this? 😕 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. ---
**Author:** ![Starguard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Starguard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starguard)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-american-fighter-pilots-are-there-any-left/243352/8 "2004-05-04T05:10:22Z")
Thanks Everyone 🆒