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“I
hate(d) segregation, yet on the other hand it brought us
together from 1941 to 1949, when the Air Force closed
the segregated bases,”
McGee said. “We became lifelong friends and we still
get together annually; of course, some of us come in
wheelchairs now, but that’s life.” Fauntroy,
who grew up in the District, remembered the cadet corps
at his high school and was surprised by the synergy he
witnessed.
“The thing that impressed me at Tuskegee was how the
pilots and mechanics worked so closely together,”
Fauntroy continued. “That’s the one thing I liked about
the Army Air Corps was that we were working together and
when I started to fly, I understood if it wasn’t for
that guy taking care of this airplane, I wouldn’t be up
here flying … it was a team concept.”
While the red jackets the Tuskegee Airmen wear symbolize
their “Red Tails” name and the achievements in the sky
above Germany during World War II, they also represent
other victories as well. The 996 pilots and more than
15,000 ground personnel who served with these units flew
more than 15,500 combat sorties and earned more than 150
Distinguished Flying Crosses.
“Have you heard of ‘Double Victory?’ We were fighting a
war against Hitler in Europe
and we were fighting a war against racism at home,” said
McGee, who has more than 6,000 flying hours. The
Tuskegee Airmen’s successes encouraged
President Harry Truman
to integrate the armed forces in 1948.
“We honor the service and sacrifice of all our
Airmen year-round, but I’d like to take a moment to
highlight the Tuskegee Airmen,”
James said. “Their legacy is so
important, not just to our Air Force, but to our
nation. Their skill and bravery in the skies over
Europe helped us win the war against fascism and
their perseverance at home helped us down the path
of diversity in our military and our nation.”
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