The past and present
came together Aug. 4 as black aviators from different generations
took part in a historic flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III.
An all-volunteer, black aircrew from the 315th and 437th Airlift
Wings at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the 446th AW at
McChord AFB, Wash., flew nine original Tuskegee Airmen on an
orientation flight aboard the C-17 named "The Spirit of the
Tuskegee Airmen" as part of 35th annual Tuskegee Airman Convention
in Phoenix.
"This flight united African-American aviators from two very
different generations," said Master Sgt. Terry Grant, one of the
event planners who is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command's 300th
Airlift Squadron. "These original Tuskegee Airmen had the
opportunity to witness the fruits of their labor and see today's
black aviators doing what they made possible."
The Tuskegee Airmen were America's first black Airmen. At that
time, many people thought that black men lacked the intelligence,
skill, courage and patriotism to become aviators.
From 1942 through 1946, 994 pilots graduated at Tuskegee Army
Airfield in Tuskegee, Ala. Black navigators, bombardiers and
gunnery crews trained at various military bases elsewhere in the
United States.
Sergeant Grant said that Charleston AFB has a close personal tie
to the Tuskegee Airmen because Walterboro, S.C., 40 miles southwest
of Charleston, was used as a training base for the Tuskegee Airmen
during World War II.
"I am jealous," said Charles Lane, an 81-year-old original
Tuskegee Airman who participated in the flight. "I wish I could
give up about 55 years and fly with them."
Mr. Lane, a seasoned war veteran who flew 26 combat missions
from Ramatalli, Italy, during World War II, trained as a P-51
Mustang pilot in Tuskegee and Walterboro.
The idea to take an all-black C-17 crew and fly with original
Tuskegee Airmen came from the mission's aircraft commander, Capt.
Terry Troutman, from the 701st Airlift Squadron.
This mission was about influencing future generations of black
aviators, Captain Troutman said.
"There were more African-American pilots in 1943 and 1944 with
the development of the Tuskegee Airmen than we have in 2006," the
captain said. "This is about getting the word out to younger
generations that their goals can be reached."
Eugene Richardson, an 81-year-old former P-40 and P-47 pilot,
who also trained in Walterboro, said the flight was
"fantastic."
"(The aircrew) did almost as good as I did back then," he said
with a laugh.
Mr. Richardson said he felt a special connection with the
crew.
"They are close to my heart," he said.
"I am glad that they recognize that it is these old guys that
made what they do possible," Mr. Richardson said as he walked off
the plane. "It is just a great feeling to see all these black
pilots around." [ANN Salutes Capt. Wayne Capps, 315th Airlift Wing
Public Affairs]