by Master Sgt. Merrie Schilter Lowe
Air Force News Service
WASHINGTON -- They battled Nazism and Fascism in the skies over North Africa and Europe, and racism on the ground back in the United States.
They painted the tails of their P-51s bright red, and names like "Hammerin' Hank," "Creamer's Dream," and "'Mo' Downs" on the sides of their aircraft.
But what really made the Tuskegee Airmen distinct was the fact that they never lost a bomber during some 200 escort missions during World War II.
Now, visitors to the Pentagon can learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen, thanks to the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. The organization recently presented four new paintings to the Air Force which depict various aspects of their operations.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman accepted the paintings, saying they would give anyone who walks through the Pentagon "a full range of ideas" about the Airmen's contributions.
The paintings are prominently displayed on a wall directly opposite the office of the chief master sergeant of the Air Force. The new additions hang between two Air Force art collection paintings of the Tuskegee Airmen -- instructor pilots at Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., and the "brave men" of the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group.
During the brief presentation ceremony, Fogleman said he himself didn't realize the extent of the black aviators' contribution until 25 years ago when he began teaching military history at the Air Force Academy.
The paintings, by A. Ric Druet of Riverbank, Calif., include one scene each from the lives of the men in the 99th, 100th, 301st and 302nd Fighter squadrons.
In one painting, entitled "Button Up Time," the artist shows the close relationship between ground crews and aviators. The ground crews usually worked through the night preparing the aircraft for the next day's rendezvous with bombers, Fogleman said.
"And believe me, they (the ground crew) were on the ground looking up and counting those aircraft as they returned from a mission," he said. "This is a very touching moment," he explained of the painting.
Another painting, entitled "Drop Tanks Follow Me," shows P-51 pilots dropping their external fuel tanks before engaging the enemy in air-to-air combat. Fogleman said the painting also shows "the first kill of a jet fighter by an American pilot." The Tuskegee Airmen actually destroyed 111 enemy aircraft in air-to-air fighting and 150 aircraft that were on the ground.
There were 996 original Airmen, 450 of whom served in combat. Sixty-six of the aviators died in combat.
Despite the personal hardships they suffered because of racism, the overriding factor was always the mission, said retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, the Airmen's former commander. He said in a recent telephone interview that their goal was always the mission: "The mission was always the dominating factor. It was a life and death operation, and it was important to our nation."
The general public also got a chance to see what made the Tuskegee Airmen legends when HBO premiered the movie, "The Tuskegee Airmen" Aug. 26.
Repeat showings of the World War II drama are scheduled for Aug. 31, Sept. 3, 6, 11 and 17, said Alan Gropman, professor of history, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and a charter member of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Viewers can check local listings for air times.
