The Tuskegee Airmen and Their Contributions to America

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jordan Lambert
  • 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  With over 15,000 sorties flown on 1,500 missions, the Tuskegee Airmen were highly skilled combat pilots. Devoted and strong-minded African American men, the Tuskegee Airmen became America's first black airmen. In a period in which the black man was thought to lack bravery, intellect, skill, and patriotism, these young men were able to prove their abilities to the world. Due to the negative thoughts of the nation, each airman aspired to serve their country to the best of their ability. Only the most qualified African American men were chosen to become aviation cadets, those that possessed high physical and mental aptitude. With their countless acts of selflessness and bravery, the Tuskegee Airmen made innumerable contributions to the United States.

The first African American United States military pilots were the Tuskegee Airmen. Although a black man by the name of Eugene Bullard had flown for the French military prior to the Airmen's formation, no African American had flown for the United States. Due to the unwillingness of the War Departments acceptance of black pilots, use of the legislation of Congress was the only way to insure their acceptance. After an extensive battle with the War Department of the United States, in 1941 the Army Air Corps was forced by Congress to develop an entirely black combat unit. The War Department in return developed a system to accept only the applicants with a high level of flying experience and education in attempts to disengage the new unit. Despite their efforts, many students from Tuskegee Institute were already qualified due to the Civilian Pilot Training Program in which they previously participated in. In order to place airmen in the best role for their abilities, the Army Air Corps developed the Psychological Research Unit 1.

This unit specialized in identifying airmen's skill, intelligence quotient, as well as their leadership abilities to determine if they were best fit to be a pilot, navigator, or a bombardier. The development of the all black unit also opened up doors for blacks to work in other career fields. Enlisted members were trained to be aircraft and engine mechanics, armament specialists, radio repairmen, parachute riggers, control tower operators, policemen, administrative clerks and other various fields to support Army Air Corps. Prior to this time, there were only white flight surgeons in the United States Army. However in 1943, two airmen were admitted into the School of Aviation Medicine. Childhood friend of Benjamin O Davis, Jr. who was the first African American General, Vance H. Marchbanks, Jr. M.D. served as the chief flight surgeon of the Tuskegee Airmen.

With their hard work and dedication, the Tuskegee Airmen helped to change the views of blacks in America. The astonishing and exceptional record of the Tuskegee Airmen was accomplished by a group of those who were thought to be unintelligent. Proving themselves to not only America but to the world, their names will never be forgotten. Recognizing and receiving the challenge of serving their country, each airman demonstrated their ability and unwavering determination to overcome the resentment of those in the states and overseas. While the other pilots were only fighting the war against an enemy nation, the Tuskegee Airmen were forced to fight the same war along with the war of racism. If it were not for these brave men, the United States Air Force would not be the air power that it is today.