Plane To Commemorate Historic Black Pilots

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Maj. George S. Spanky Roberts at the controls of a P-51 Mustang. Roberts was the first African American accepted for U.S. Army pilot training. He later commanded the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. (U.S. Air Force photo) The National WWII Museum which is located in New Orleans is refurbishing a P-51 Mustang similar to those flown by the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII. The museums plane was not flown by the Tuskegee Airmen but is being restored to resemble an actual Red Tail plane.
Maj. George S. Spanky Roberts at the controls of a P-51 Mustang. Roberts was the first African American accepted for U.S. Army pilot training. He later commanded the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. (U.S. Air Force photo) The National WWII Museum which is located in New Orleans is refurbishing a P-51 Mustang similar to those flown by the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII. The museums plane was not flown by the Tuskegee Airmen but is being restored to resemble an actual Red Tail plane.

The Tuskegee Airmen broke racial color barriers in the United States military during World War II. And now as the box office hit Red Tails depicts the strength of the courageous fighter pilots, the National WWII Museum is going a step further to highlight the accomplishments of the brave men.

The National WWII Museum which is located in New Orleans is refurbishing a P-51 Mustang similar to those flown by the Tuskegee Airmen in WWII. The museums plane was not flown by the Tuskegee Airmen but is being restored to resemble an actual Red Tail plane. Its refurbishment will be completed by early 2013 and according to museum curators, the planes tail will be painted red.

The Ricketts family, owners of the Chicago Cubs has pledged $500,000 towards the planes restoration.

Todd Ricketts is a museum board member and recently told the Chicago Citizen that its important for the airmen to be recognized.

Its really a story that needs to be told and I think the museum is in a good spot to tell it, Ricketts said.

Ricketts finds it interesting that despite the racial injustice the pilots faced, they still were willing to fight and die for their country.

The history of Blacks in the United States up until that point would have been one where the country didnt treat them that well and they still felt that sense of duty, he said.

"African-Americans' experience in World War II was a fight for two victories," said the National WWII Museums president and CEO Dr. Gordon H. Nick" Mueller. "The first was to defeat the Axis. The second was for equal rights. The museum feels it must always convey the story of this double victory so that young generations know and understand the challenges these Americans faced. Our P-51 will serve as a touchstone for that effort."

The exhibited plane will be part of a display illuminating the airmens role in WWII and how the P-51 contributes to the wars rich history.

The National WWII Museum needs a total of $1 million to complete the renovation.

I will be calling people and knocking on doors for the next few months to get exposure for the museum to raise the rest of those funds, Ricketts told the Chicago Citizen.

Prior to 1940, Blacks were not allowed to fly planes for the military.

As a result of a public outcry from Civil Rights organizations and the Black Press, a training squadron was created in Tuskegee, Ala.

The pilots were known as the Tuskegee Airmen because they trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and their successes launched integration of the military in 1948.

Twitter:@thelmasardin

Sources: National WWII Museum, nps.govBy Thelma Sardin

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