America's first black fighter pilots - the Tuskegee Airmen - are credited with shooting down more than 100 enemy aircraft during World War II. But perhaps their biggest claim to fame was having never lost to enemy fire an American bomber that they were escorting. That's been the story for more than a half-century, but now a former airman and historian says he's uncovered records that disprove that claim. The assertion is causing a firestorm, as Tanya Ott (TAWN-yuh AWT) reports.
More from Tanya Ott
Gees Bend Quilter
(00:09:02)
From: Tanya Ott
one of the famous Gees Bend quilters talks about the tradition of quilting and their rise to international fame
See You in a Hundred Years: a social experiment
(00:06:20)
From: Tanya Ott
family lives for a year like its 1901
Vacation Homes: Are they really a dream?
(00:04:52)
From: Tanya Ott
If your recent vacation has you dreaming of owning a 2nd home, you?re not alone. Sales of second homes are at an all-time high. But there?s a lot to consider. before you can ...
Pharmacy's Prognosis
(00:02:48)
From: Tanya Ott
The role of pharmacist has changed dramatically in recent years and the competition to get into pharmacy school is fierce.
Do you know YOUR credit score?
(00:05:19)
From: Tanya Ott
You finished college several years ago and thought cramming for tests and stressing about scores was over. Well surprise! There is still one score that has the power to ...
Hiring Illegal Immigrants: the Tyson Story
(00:03:36)
From: Tanya Ott
Tyson Foods is accused of surpressing wages by hiring illegal immigants. The lawsuit points out problems in the government's handling of workplace sanctions for companies ...
The Heights, The Depths and Everything in Between
(00:06:59)
From: Tanya Ott
Growing up is never easy ... but some of us make light of things like junior high angst by writing books based on our experience. This is author Sally Nemeth's tale.
Black Belt Poverty
(00:07:09)
From: Tanya Ott
The Black Belt of the Deep South stretches from Virginia to Texas. It got its name from the dark, rich soil that made cotton production a highly profitable industry - and ...
Free Press Post 9-11
(00:05:06)
From: Tanya Ott
After 9-11, the executive and administrative branches of the U.S. government instituted a series of policies to control access to information, institutions and events deemed ...
Can Your Lunch Kill You?
(00:06:37)
From: Tanya Ott
Mad Cow. Avian Flu. Mercury-contaminated fish. Every day there seems to be a new threat to the U-S food supply. But how real is the risk and are consumers worried?
Related Pieces
Piece Description
America's first black fighter pilots - the Tuskegee Airmen - are credited with shooting down more than 100 enemy aircraft during World War II. But perhaps their biggest claim to fame was having never lost to enemy fire an American bomber that they were escorting. That's been the story for more than a half-century, but now a former airman and historian says he's uncovered records that disprove that claim. The assertion is causing a firestorm, as Tanya Ott (TAWN-yuh AWT) reports.
Broadcast History
aired locally on WBHM-FM, Birmingham, AL
and nationally on All Things Considered
James Mills
Posted on December 28, 2006 at 05:56 AM | Permalink
Review of New Doubts About Tuskegee Airmen's Perfect Record
This is one of those stories that takes some courage to tell. It's never easy to dispel a myth, particularly one that helps to heal over an ugly scare of our history that many wish would simply fade away. The racism that segregated our armed forces during the second world war is a national tragedy. The gallant performance of the Tuskegee Airmen belied the widely held believe that African American fliers could never pilot a plane as well as their white counterparts. The mythology behind their perfect record in the European theater elevated these men to the status of legends and today testifies to the valuable contributions all people can make in the service of their country.
But should it shown that the record is in error, it is the duty of journalists to reveal that evidence and inform of the public. As Tanya Ott said in her piece the loss of a few escorted bombers does not detract from the Tuskegee Airmen?s accomplishments. To know that they were indeed not perfect may better inspire a new generation to aspire and achieve at least that which is possible.