Museum opens expanded Tuskegee Airmen exhibit
A group of African Americans who fought for equality as they battled for their country are being recognized with an expanded exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Museum opens expanded Tuskegee Airmen exhibit
A group of African Americans who fought for equality as they battled for their country are being recognized with an expanded exhibit at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Located in the museum's World War II Gallery, the exhibit honors the famed Tuskegee Airmen, black military pilots, navigators, bombardiers, armorers, maintainers, trainers, administrators and support personnel who fought during WWII. The U.S. military remained racially segregated during the war, reflecting American society and law at the time. Most African American soldiers and sailors were restricted to labor battalions or other support positions, but the Tuskegee Airmen demonstrated conclusively that African Americans -- if given equal opportunities and training -- could fly in, command and support combat units as well as anyone.
"These men overcame tremendous challenges to prove their equality when it came to combat," said Museum Historian Dr. Jeff Underwood, who curated the exhibit. "They served with distinction, and they contributed to the eventual integration of the U.S. armed services, with the U.S. Air Force leading the way. Their impact on American history continues to this day."
The museum has had a Tuskegee Airmen exhibit since the 1970s, which was updated with new artifacts, photographs and documents in 2003. With the addition of the newly-restored Stearman PT-13D aircraft and more display cases, it was necessary to provide more space for the exhibit.
Visitors can see information and never-before-seen photos of this historic group, as well as many artifacts, including Col. (Ret.) Edward C. Gleed's flight jacket, Maj. (Ret.) Charles Hall's Distinguished Flying Cross, and objects from Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles H. DeBow, one of the five men in the first class of pilots to graduate from Tuskegee. A diorama that includes the PT-13D and instructor and cadet mannequins helps tell the story of flight training during the war.
The exhibit opening coincides with Black History Month, which is celebrated each year in February. For more information, please visit our website.
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