The Tuskegee Airmen
History
The Tuskegee Airmen,Inc. evolved in 1972 from an association of unique black aviators whose military service in World War II proved to the country that the criteria for responsible citizenship is emboldened in character and achievement rather than ethnicity. It was named for the base where the flyers were trained or served the nation's war effort.
This "separate but equal" facility was established in Tuskegee, Alabama. The location was also the home of Tuskegee Institute, a state co-educational school for black youths, founded by Booker T. Washington and incorporated in 1881.
During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen performed their military duties in North Africa and Europe with heroism, despite social barriers thrown before them. Today, in a world of uneasy peace, we note with pride a similar dedication to the pursuit of excellence as developed in our scholarship program. Today, each year 45 high school graduates aspiring to aerospace technology careers receive over $67,500 nationally. Many local chapters also contribute to Educational Assistance Programs in their chapter area increasing the total number of dollars expended for Scholarship significantly. Our local chapter gives from 5 - 10 such awards each year, ranging from $500 to over $4000 (total dollars).
The Tuskegee Experiment:
| 1939 | Congressional action enables Negroes to enter civilian flight training under "separate but equal" conditions. |
| 1940 | U.S. Army Air Corps presented plan for utilization of Negroes. |
| 1941 | Elementary flight training of Negro Cadets began at Tuskegee, Alabama |
| 1942 | Graduation of first five cadets on March 7, 1942. |
| 1943 | 99th Pursuit Squadron arrived in North Africa. |
| 1945 | Freeman Field incident. |
| 1946 | Tuskegee Airfield closed. |
| 1948 | President Harry Truman signed order desegregating all armed forces. |
| 1972 | Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., a non-military, non-political, non-profit organization, formed in Detroit, Michigan |
| 1977 | Sacramento Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated organized. |
| 1984 | Chapter renamed George S. "Spanky" Roberts Chapter. |