Racism was strong thought WWII, but the persistent push of protest groups and the need for soldiers gradually loosened it’s racial grip. Blacks were beginning to appear in combat, but were hindered due to inferior training. (3)
In January 1941 the War Department announced a formation of an all-black pursuit squadron for potential fighter aircraft. This group flew over 15,000 shorties, completed 1578 missions, and escorted 200 heavy bombers into Germany’s Rhineland. They accumulated a total of 150 Distinguished Flying crosses, a Legion of Merit, a Silver Star, 14 Bronze Stars, and 744 Air Medals. (3)
This proved the the naysayers, that had doubted that black men did not have the nerve or ability to pilot fighter aircraft, wrong. This gave blacks a sense that they could succeed and compete in a world that was against them. The Tuskegee Airmen laid the foundation for a modern movement for freedom of opportunity. This led to the Trumen’s Executive Order 9981, in July 1948, which mandated “ equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.” (3) This is one of the events that eventually led to the Freedom Movement and ultimately banned discrimination in employment practices and public accommodations. Lt Sloan, along with others from the Tuskegee Airmen, are men who proved racial stereotypes wrong. These African American, being in a glorified position (fighter pilot) helped shape others views that African Americans are not inferior and can rise to any challenge and obstacle. This paradigm shift and my interest in flying, is why I wanted to glorify Lt Sloan and the other men of the Tuskegee Airmen.
In January 1941 the War Department announced a formation of an all-black pursuit squadron for potential fighter aircraft. This group flew over 15,000 shorties, completed 1578 missions, and escorted 200 heavy bombers into Germany’s Rhineland. They accumulated a total of 150 Distinguished Flying crosses, a Legion of Merit, a Silver Star, 14 Bronze Stars, and 744 Air Medals. (3)
This proved the the naysayers, that had doubted that black men did not have the nerve or ability to pilot fighter aircraft, wrong. This gave blacks a sense that they could succeed and compete in a world that was against them. The Tuskegee Airmen laid the foundation for a modern movement for freedom of opportunity. This led to the Trumen’s Executive Order 9981, in July 1948, which mandated “ equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.” (3) This is one of the events that eventually led to the Freedom Movement and ultimately banned discrimination in employment practices and public accommodations. Lt Sloan, along with others from the Tuskegee Airmen, are men who proved racial stereotypes wrong. These African American, being in a glorified position (fighter pilot) helped shape others views that African Americans are not inferior and can rise to any challenge and obstacle. This paradigm shift and my interest in flying, is why I wanted to glorify Lt Sloan and the other men of the Tuskegee Airmen.