Chynadoll Creations

Chynadoll Creations

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Red Tails.


This weekend the movie Red Tails opened. I saw it today and it was beyond good! I strongly recommend everyone see and support this film. It is a part of American history that should never be forgotten.


The Tuskegee Airman
 were an elite group of African-American pilots in the 1940s. They were pioneers in equality and integration of the Armed Forces. The term  "Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air.

The primary flight training for these servicemembers took place at the Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee Institute. Air Corps officials built a separate facility at Tuskegee Army Air Field to train the pilots. The Tuskegee Airmen not only battled enemies during wartime but also fought against racism and segregation thus proving they were just as good as any other pilot.  Racism was common during World War II and many people did not want blacks to become pilots. They trained in overcrowded classrooms and airstrips, and suffered from the racist attitude of some military officials. The Tuskegee Airman suffered many hardships, but they proved themselves to be world class pilots.

Even though the Tuskegee Airmen proved their worth as military pilots they were still forced to operate in segregated units and did not fight alongside their white countrymen.

The men earned the nickname "Red Tail Angels" since the bombers considered their escorts  "angels" and the red paint on the propeller and tail of their planes. 

In March of 1942 George Roberts, Benjamin Davis Jr., Charles BeBow Jr., Mac Ross and Lemuel Custis received silver wings of Army Air Force pilots. These men completed the standard Army flight classroom instruction and many hours of flight time. Receiving their silver wings marked a milestone in being the first African Americans to qualify as military pilots in any branch of the armed forces.

By the end of the war, 992 men had graduated from Negro Air Corps pilot training at Tuskegee; 450 were sent overseas for combat assignment. During the same period, about 150 lost their lives while in training or on combat flights. These black Airmen manage to destroy or damage over 409 German airplanes, 950 ground units, and sank a battleship destroyer. They ran more than 200 bomber escort missions during World War II.

On Nov. 6, 1998, President Clinton approved Public Law 105-355, which established the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Ala., to commemorate and interpret the heroic actions of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

When the site opened Oct. 10, 2008, at Moton Field, Ala., National Park Officials designated part of Interstate 85, which passes near the city of Tuskegee, as the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway.

Major contribution by Airman Brian Butkus, 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs




I had the pleasure of meeting two of the Tuskegee Airman
at the Air and Space museum in DC.  I was
photographed with Mr George Hickman and got an copy
 of his autographed book.  It was such an honor for me.

I purchased these action figures quite some
years ago from K*B toys before they closed.








14 comments:

  1. This is a wonderful tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen. We saw the movie today, too. I enjoyed it.

    dbg

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    1. I forgot to add: You are blessed to have met a real-live Tuskegee Airmen survivor!

      dbg

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  2. Thanks Debbie, I truly enjoyed this movie! I am very blessed to have met a living legend.

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  3. Thanks for sharing this...Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs

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  4. I totally plan to see this movie very soon! I actually know one of the main actors in this film - We attend the same church!
    That's so neat that you got to meet two of the actual airmen. It must have been a wonderful experience! :)

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  5. Wonderful post! Love the photos too.

    I 'liked' the Red Tails page on facebook and plan to see the movie as well. Although, I would love for Hollywood to feel the pain of not funding this project based on they're ignorance and narrow mindedness...I do hope that the film does well because it's a great and accurate story of these courageous American men. It's a shame that some people need to be reminded that this story is part of the every American's History like any other docudrama about our Armed Forces.

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    1. In a way Hollywood will feel the pain of not funding the product by it doing so well. George Lucas is the one who funded the project and I imagine he will be the one who reaps the profits. It will be great for the actors, too.

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  6. Wonderful post Cecile. I have plans to see it tomorrow. That is great that you had the pleasure of meeting two of them. I love your dolls. A member of my doll club brought two of them for show and tell today. I remember seeing these dolls years ago and regret not purchasing them.

    Happy Sunday to you!

    Vickey

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  7. Great post! Rod and Danielle (and me) were supposed to see it Saturday, but we had an awful thunderstorm. So they are going tomorrow. Congrats on meeting two in person. My best friend graduated from the Air Force Academy and SHE has done a lot with them over the years. I haven't personally had the pleasure. I can't wait to see the movie. I so miss K&B Toys!

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  8. Hello from Spain: congratulations on this post so detailed. I have not seen the movie and I think that in Spain there are putting. I like your new figure from the Air Force. Keep in touch

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  9. This is wonderful. I saw an interview last week about this movie. George Lucas and others worked so long to make this a reality. Very unfortunate, but glad it finally came to fruition. I really need to see it. I never knew about these dolls. They are great. Thanks for sharing and linking a little American history to the doll world.

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  10. Thanks for all of your comments. I hope you all get a chance to see this movie and I was glad I was able to share a bit of American history to the doll community :)
    Be Blessed
    Cecile~

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  11. This Was Really A Great Moment,Cecile!!
    I´m Happy You Shared It With Us.
    It Makes We Understand That Happiness Is Something Like This Moment.Full Of Gratitude,Kindness And History!
    Thank You!!

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    1. Hey Jorge :0) thanks for dropping by and leaving your comment:) Yes this is a great moment indeed and you are so welcome.

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