The Tuskegee Airmen

As Black History Month approached in February, and as this is my first web log, I wanted to write a tribute here to Roy Matthews, decd., a relative who was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a legendary group of Black U.S. Air Force pilots that flew with distinction during combat in World War II. In the end, my tribute was published in a more familiar setting elsewhere, however, for purposes of completeness here, let the record reflect the following.

During the 1940's, people of color were barred from entry into the U.S. Air Force. Pressure by the Civil Rights Movement forced the formation of a black squadron that was later trained under very poor conditions at an institute in the town of Tuskegee, Alabama. This poorly trained team overcame segregation and racial prejudice and proved conclusively that African Americans could fly, combat and maintain sophisticated military equipment. My relative, Uncle Roy, was stationed in Italy and was among the Airmen who participated in the successful Allied Invasion of Sicily in July 1943.

The Tuskegee Airmen finally won White America's acceptance with Congressional enactment and Presidential approval of Public Law 105-355, establishing the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at Mouton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama. In 2006 the Tuskegee Airmen were also collectively awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, in recognition for their service and sacrifice during World War II.