1. The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of military pilots who were subjected to racial discrimination during World War II.1 As the first African-American pilots in the Army Air Forces, their efforts played a pivotal part in history as it relates to equal opportunity in America’s Armed Forces. This background paper is on the Tuskegee Airmen’s experiences in their Flight Training Program, the impact they had on desegregation in the United States Airforce (USAF) and their overall historical significance.
2. Flight training for the Tuskegee Airmen consisted of four different phases. The four phases of training were primary, basic, advanced and transition. Pilots began with primary training at Tuskegee Institute’s Moton Field, where they flew PT-17 and PT-19 training aircrafts. Basic, advanced and transition training were all conducted at Tuskegee Army Air Field.2 During basic flying training, pilots participated in both ground school and training on military aircrafts.3 In this phase of flight training the pilots learned meteorology and radio communication, along with flight instruction on BT-13 monoplanes. Advanced and transition training consisted of AT-6 flying and ground courses, covering armament, tactics and advanced navigation.4 …show more content…
The accomplishments of The Tuskegee Airmen had a monumental impact on USAF desegregation. The 332nd Fighter Group, the only black flying unit, earned two Distinguished Unit Citations during combat operations in Italy in addition to several other acheivements.5 The Tuskegee-trained pilots proved not only that they were great fighter pilots in combat, but also that they were efficient in any fighting mission and could utilize the most advanced fighter aircrafts.6 The combination of the Tuskegee Airmen’s success in combat and successful resistance at home to segregationist policies, was a tremendous contribution to the ultimate integration of The United States Air
2. Flight training for the Tuskegee Airmen consisted of four different phases. The four phases of training were primary, basic, advanced and transition. Pilots began with primary training at Tuskegee Institute’s Moton Field, where they flew PT-17 and PT-19 training aircrafts. Basic, advanced and transition training were all conducted at Tuskegee Army Air Field.2 During basic flying training, pilots participated in both ground school and training on military aircrafts.3 In this phase of flight training the pilots learned meteorology and radio communication, along with flight instruction on BT-13 monoplanes. Advanced and transition training consisted of AT-6 flying and ground courses, covering armament, tactics and advanced navigation.4 …show more content…
The accomplishments of The Tuskegee Airmen had a monumental impact on USAF desegregation. The 332nd Fighter Group, the only black flying unit, earned two Distinguished Unit Citations during combat operations in Italy in addition to several other acheivements.5 The Tuskegee-trained pilots proved not only that they were great fighter pilots in combat, but also that they were efficient in any fighting mission and could utilize the most advanced fighter aircrafts.6 The combination of the Tuskegee Airmen’s success in combat and successful resistance at home to segregationist policies, was a tremendous contribution to the ultimate integration of The United States Air