Sixth Annual Convocation To Be Held This Week
America's first
African-American fighter pilots will receive honorary degrees from
Tuskegee University Thursday, February 23, as part of the Sixth
Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convocation.
The event recognizes the Tuskegee Airmen's exemplary combat
performance during World War II, which included the destruction of
260 enemy aircraft while not losing a single bomber to enemy fire
in more than 200 combat missions, a record unmatched by any other
fighter group. Sixty-six were killed in action and another 32 were
taken prisoner.
Between 1940 and 1946 approximately 1,000 African-American
pilots trained at Tuskegee in segregated units. They earned more
than 850 medals during the war and became a symbol of excellence
and perseverance. Their extraordinary stories of overcoming
obstacles remains relevant today.
The Tuskegee Airmen and their crews became accomplished pilots
and technicians against great odds. Following the war they had to
again overcome many of the same adversities to reach their personal
goals. The Tuskegee Airmen have forged a path of success and in
doing so have become excellent role models.
Sixty-three surviving airmen are scheduled to attend the 11:00
am Convocation at the University Chapel, including two Minnesota
airmen, Joseph Gomer and Vernon Hopson. The men will be flying to
Tuskegee's Moton Field aboard a Cirrus SR22 provided by Cirrus
Design Corp.
As Aero-News has reported,
Cirrus is a corporate sponsor of the Red Tail Project, a non-profit
organization dedicated to spreading the story of the Tuskegee
Airmen. The group takes its name from the Tuskegee Airmen's famous
red-tailed P-51s.
The Red Tail Project aims to encourage youth to follow the
example set by the Tuskegee Airmen in achieving their dreams. The
Project is a part of the Commemorative Air Force, whose goal is to
recognize the sacrifices and contributions of our veterans by
preserving the military aviation heritage of WWII and beyond.
Col. George Mills Boyd
will be this year's convocation speaker. Colonel Boyd served as a
squadron adjutant, detachment and squadron commander, management
engineer and jet fighter radar intercept officer for 28 years with
the United States Air Force. He is also an original life member of
Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Class 45-G. He retired from the USAF as a
major in 1971.
The Red Tail Project Board of Directors has committed itself to
raising $2,000,000 to fund an education project as well as the
costs related to rebuilding the P-51C "Tuskegee Airmen.", severely
damaged in an accident on May 29, 2004.