Tuskegee Airmen

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The Tuskegee Airmen

America's Fighting Red Tails

The Tuskegee Airmen is the name that is generally given to the 332nd Fighter Group during WWII. The 332nd was the only US fighter group in which all pilots, ground crews and support personnel were Negroes. The first flying cadets were inducted into the Army Air Corps in July of 1941. Tuskegee Army Air Field was constructed especially for them adjacent to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, hence the moniker.

The first squadron to be formed was the 99th. In February 1942 a second squadron, the 100th was formed. In April 1943, the 99th FS deployed to North Africa where they began combat operations as part of the 12th Air Force while the 100th FS remained in the States to form the nucleus of the 332nd FG.

From April 1943 to June 1944 the 99th FS, flying P-40 Warhawks, was attached, at different times, to several all white fighter groups. On July 3, 1944 the 99th FS was absorbed into the 332nd FG which had been flying combat operations since February. The 332nd FG now consisted the 99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons and was now part of the 15th Air Force based at Ramitelli Italy. It was the only 4-squadron Fighter Group in the USAAF.

Concurrent with the addition of the 99th, the Group reequipped with the North American P-51 Mustang and began flying combat. missions. The 332nd Painted the tail surfaces of their Mustangs red with red spinners. A 12 inch band aft of the the spinner was different colour for each of the squadrons. The first mission that all four squadrons operated together as a group was on 18, July 1944.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew their last mission of WWII on 30 April 1945. They were credited with 111 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air and 150 on the ground. They were also credited with the sinking of an enemy destroyer using only machine gun fire. They were also awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations over Germany on 24 March 1945.

"The Shepherd" © Troy White SOLD

"The Shepherd" features "My Buddy" a P-51C assigned to 1st Lt. Charles P. Bailey of the 99th FS, 332nd FG, as he keeps watch over a squadron of B-24s from the 451st BG flying over the Alps en route to Germany. The 99th FS was the original unit of "Tuskegee Airmen" -- the first all black fighter pilot squadron in the U.S. Army Air Force. Lt. Bailey was one of the 99th's "Top Guns" scoring his first victory over the Anzio beachhead on January 28, 1944. Bailey flew a total of 133 missions in the MTO. He received the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on May 12, 1945.

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"Tall in the Saddle" © Troy White SOLD

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Lt. George Hardy flew with the 99th FS, 332nd FG in 1945. His assigned aircraft was "Tall in the Saddle" which had originally had belonged to Captain Wendell Lucas.

Hardy joined the 99th in April 1945. He was just 19 years of age and had arrived as a replacement pilot. He flew flew as a wingman on 21 combat missions, most of them were high altitude escort missions but some of them were also strafing missions. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Lt. Hardy returned to the states in August 1945 and was discharged in November 1946. He returned to active duty in June 1948 as a P-47 pilot with the 301st Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, Lockbourne AFB, Ohio.

After the Air Force desegregated in July 1949, Hardy was reassigned to the 19th Bomb Group (B-29s) on the island of Guam. During the Korean War the 19th BG moved to Okinawa and flew bombing missions over Korea. George flew 45 combat missions over Korea. He was rated as a Command Pilot in September 1959.

During the Vietnam War Hardy was assigned to the 18th Special Operations Squadron at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam from April 1970 to April 1971. He was the Operating Location Commander at Udorn, Thailand and then as Operating Location Commander at Danang AB, Vietnam he flew 70 combat missions in AC-119K Gunships over Northern Laos and along the Ho Chi Min Trail. Lt. Col Hardy retired from the Air Force in November 1971. His career decorations include the DFC with Valor, and the Air Medal with 11 OLC.

"Duchess Arlene" © Troy White

"Duchess Arlene" was a P-51D assigned to Lt. Robert W. Williams of the 100th FS, 332nd FG in 1945. Williams shot down one of the Luftwaffe's Me 262 jet fighters on 24 March 1944 and on 31 March 1944 shot down a pair of Fw 190s.

Lt. Robert W. Williams (second from left) with fellow pilots. Williams on 31 March 1945 shot down a pair of FW 190s.

"Creamer's Dream" © Troy White

"Creamer's Dream" was a P-51D assigned to Lt. Charles White of the 301st FS, 332nd FG in 1945. White is credited with two victories scored during the big April Fool's dogfight.

Col. Bengamin . Davis Jr. and Capt. Edward Gleed stand in in front of Lt. White's "Creamer's Dream".

Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was born in Washington, D.C., in 1912. He graduated from U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1936 with a commission as a second lieutenant of infantry. In May 1941 he entered Advanced Flying School at Tuskegee Army Air Base and received his pilot wings in March 1942.

Davis was made CO of the 99th Fighter Squadron at Tuskegee Army Air Field and deployed with his unit to North Africa in April 1943. He returned to the United States in October 1943 and assumed command of the 332d Fighter Group at Selfridge Field, Michigan and returned with the group to Italy two months later. Davis continued to command the 332nd until the end of hostilities. He remained in the Air Force after the war and retired as a General.

General Davis's military decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Philippine Legion of Honour. He was a command pilot.

"Little Freddie" © Troy White

"Little Freddie" was the personal mount of Captain Fred Hutchins of the 302nd FS, 332nd FG in 1945. Captain Hutchins splashed an Me109 on 26 July 1944.

Captain Fred Hutchins 302nd FS

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