Red-Tailed Angels: How the Tuskegee Airmen Changed History

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of young Black men who took the opportunity to train as pilots for World War II.

It was supposed to be an experiment because some people didn't believe that Black men had the intelligence and physical skills to complete the difficult training necessary to become pilots. Much of American society, including the Armed Forces, was still segregated in the 1930s.

In 1938, the U.S. government established the Civilian Pilot Training Program at 13 colleges nationwide to train young pilots for free. Flight training is expensive, and during the Depression, U.S. authorities worried they might not have enough pilots because people couldn't afford the training.

At first, Black students were not accepted, but after pressure from the public, the program was expanded to include women and African Americans.

In 1939, World War II began in Europe. The U.S. Army needed more pilots, so they expanded the CPTP to start an experiment to train Black men and see if they could become military pilots.

They chose the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and built an airfield there. The Institute had been initially established as a school for formerly enslaved people.

Before World War II, the U.S. military did not believe African Americans were capable of flying combat aircraft. Military leaders claimed Black pilots lacked the intelligence, skill, and leadership required for modern air warfare. As a result, African American soldiers were pushed into support roles, and the idea of Black fighter pilots was dismissed outright.

That belief did not go unchallenged.

Pressure from the Black press, civil rights organizations, and influential leaders forced the government to reconsider. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the expansion of the Civilian Pilot Training Program to include African American students. The following year, the War Department funded a new training base at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The program was openly labeled an “experiment,” reflecting the military’s deep skepticism.

The men selected for training understood exactly what was at stake. They were not just learning to fly; they were being judged as representatives of an entire race. Training standards were identical to those used for white pilots, and failure was not considered an option. The cadets bonded quickly, driven by pride, determination, and the knowledge that success would challenge long-standing racist assumptions.

In 1943, that determination carried them into combat. The first all-Black fighter unit, the 99th Fighter Squadron, deployed overseas. It later joined three other African American squadrons to form the 332nd Fighter Group—pilots whose aircraft tails were painted red and who would become known as the “Red Tails.”

What followed reshaped military history.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew hundreds of missions across Europe, escorting bombers, attacking enemy targets, and building a reputation for discipline and effectiveness. Their performance directly contradicted the beliefs that had kept them grounded for so long. Even so, when the war ended, many returned to a segregated nation that was slow to recognize what they had accomplished.

Their legacy, however, could not be ignored. The success of the Tuskegee Airmen helped dismantle myths that supported segregation and played a key role in the eventual integration of the U.S. Armed Forces.

They fought two wars at once—and changed history in the process.

In 1941, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the Tuskegee Institute and even took a plane ride with the flight instructor, showcasing her support for the project.

Even though the pilot trainees were working diligently and proving that they could handle both the physical and mental challenges of training, they were still confronted with prejudice and ill-treatment. Some White Army officers refused to work with them, and the Army leadership was initially reluctant to send them into combat.

They struggled in the civilian world as well. Some local businesses refused to provide for their needs. Whenever they had a break from training, they had to patronize segregated restaurants and hotels.

The first class at Tuskegee graduated in March of 1942. They were called the 99th Fighter Squadron. The 99th was the first Black fighter squadron to be sent overseas.

At the end of 1944, four Black squadrons fought in Italy. Their main job was to escort bombing planes and keep them safe from enemy attacks. They succeeded at this task to such a degree that the bomber pilots began to ask, "Who are those red-tailed angels?"

The reference red-tailed refers to their planes, which were recognizable by their noses and tails that were painted red.

The Tuskegee Airmen also flew combat missions, targeting enemy infrastructure like bridges and railroad tracks. Overall, they were overwhelmingly successful.

The Tuskegee Airmen earned eight Purple Hearts, fourteen Bronze Stars, three Distinguished Unit Citations, and 96 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

There were 992 pilots trained at Tuskegee Institute: 450 of them flew combat missions overseas, 12 were killed in training, 68 were killed in action, and 44 were captured.

Sadly, when the Airmen returned home, they were still treated with prejudice and segregated from White people. However, in 1948, President Harry Truman issued an executive order ending segregation in the military.

Over time, Americans have greatly appreciated the sacrifices and contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen.

In 2007, President George W. Bush awarded the Tuskegee Airmen a Congressional Gold Medal, the country's highest honor given to a civilian. Three hundred of the Airmen were there to receive this well-deserved award.

Then, in 2020, President Donald Trump honored the last living Tuskegee Airman, Charles McGee, in his State of the Union Address.

After serving thirty years, McGee retired as a Colonel from the Air Force in 1973. President Trump gave him an honorary promotion to Brigadier General and thanked him on behalf of the country for his service.

McGee died in 2022, so there are no more living Tuskegee Airman, but their memory lives on.

Now, review what you're learning in the Got It? section!