O.T. Go ahead! Take all of my heroes away from me.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

From AP:

Six decades worth of legend may be wrong when it comes to America's first black fighter pilots. A leader of the Tuskegee Airmen says he's found records disputing the claim that they never lost a bomber to enemy fire.
William Holton has been the group's historian for about a decade. He started going over old mission reports after a veteran complained that the group did, in fact, lose some bombers.

And according to Holton, Air Force records show at least a few bombers escorted by the group were shot down by the enemy during World War Two. Holton says the losses may be even bigger.

Dangit!

[lucky333]

Everyone loves a good story, especially in wartime. Whether or not a single bomber was lost under their protection is not as important as the fact that these were a group of incredible men and aviators (like many, many others of that era), not only for what they accomplished on the battlefield but the path they had to take to even get there.

I still dig em'
John

[n714b]

AND to live with the BS they had to upon their return!

Bob
80578
Last 1%

[David Johnson]

The words Tuskegee Airmen are synonymous with hero for me.

[hevansrv7a]

My first checkride(s) were with a Tuskegee Airman. I knew and worked with one who became mayor of Detroit. I met and had long chats with others. I did Young Eagles flights with their Detroit chapter (no originals actualy flew). These were some of the finest men in the "best generation" and I owe them and the others of that generation my very existence. America owes them for leading by example, not only as warriors but as leaders when they came home. How they forgave those in their own country and yet stood up for it so strongly is a wonderful and true story.

As noted above, I don't care about the statistics.

Thanks and RIP, guys.

[jclark]

Originally Posted by Bob Collins

From AP:

Six decades worth of legend may be wrong when it comes to America's first black fighter pilots. A leader of the Tuskegee Airmen says he's found records disputing the claim that they never lost a bomber to enemy fire.
William Holton has been the group's historian for about a decade. He started going over old mission reports after a veteran complained that the group did, in fact, lose some bombers.

And according to Holton, Air Force records show at least a few bombers escorted by the group were shot down by the enemy during World War Two. Holton says the losses may be even bigger.

Dangit!

Bob, I understand, but please read on.

Surely there will be a lot of dialog around the country about this but you know, it does not diminish what these men and women accomplished. And if William Horton has found records that there may have been a loss or two, then in keeping with the honor and integrity that I have seen exhibited by these men and women, it would have to be put on the table. If prior AF records indicated (as far as anyone could tell) that there were no losses, then that is all we had to go with.

Of our many "heroes", this is definitely one set that never got nor never asked for a "free lunch". I suspect that is still the case.

I say their "hero status" is still in tack and that it will take a lot more to change such.

Back in 2004, I had the opportunity to Chair the 60th Anniversary Reunion for the Tuskegee Airmen, held in Columbia, SC and facilitated by the Celebrate Freedom Foundation. It was truly an honor to be in the presence of these individuals ... so kind, considerate and unassuming. Some of our RV Formation comrades from TeamRV, Falcon Flight and the Ohio Valley RVators did a wonderful "show of force" in support of these heroes. To get a flavor of what happened, take a look at something Mike Stewart, leader of TeamRV, wrote back then:

http://www2.mstewart.net:8080/teamrv/camden04/index.htm

I had heard not long ago that there was some "new evidence" that there might have been a loss, but you know, I have also heard directly from the original airmen of atrocities that they endured that are far worse than what is reported as well. So, I say long live the the respect and praise we can all continue to have for the Tuskegee Airmen!

James
RV6 Flying, RV6A **forever** under contruction
Member, Spann Watson Chapter
Tuskegee Airmen Inc.

[RScott]

Possible explanation: As I understood it there were zero losses to enemy fighters, which does not preclude the possibility that there may have been losses to antiaircraft fire. The Tuskeegee guys could not have protected the bombers from AA fire, so until it is shown that fighters shot down the bombers, as far as I am concerned, their record remains intact.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

All Things Considered did a piece on this tonight. It was really quite fascinating, with some folks saying it's impossible to know whose bombers were being protected by whom.

The sound of the piece hasn't been encoded yet but I'm sure it will be shortly. (More)

Just for the record, I have VERY few heroes. But the Greatest Generation is one of them. Anybody who even subjected themselves to daylight bombing raids -- of any race -- qualifies. There'll never be a generation quite like it again.

[cytoxin]

i'd have to say that ANYONE flying in those days, doing as these gents did is, was, and always will be a hero. as already said there will unlikely be another group like those.....

[ddurakovich]

Originally Posted by hevansrv7a

My first checkride(s) were with a Tuskegee Airman. I knew and worked with one who became mayor of Detroit. I met and had long chats with others. I did Young Eagles flights with their Detroit chapter (no originals actualy flew). These were some of the finest men in the "best generation" and I owe them and the others of that generation my very existence. America owes them for leading by example, not only as warriors but as leaders when they came home. How they forgave those in their own country and yet stood up for it so strongly is a wonderful and true story.

As noted above, I don't care about the statistics.

Thanks and RIP, guys.

Show up next spring when they start flying Young Eagle again, look for the big yellow motorglider, and chances are better than even you will find an alumnus of the 301st Fighter Squadron flying kids. Ltc. Harry Stewart Jr will usually fly 6 - 8 flights on a good day, although he is slowing down a bit.... pushing 83 years young these days, so I guess he deserves to take it a bit easier. I just wish to heck I could keep up with him

And if I don't get this $#%@# RV-4 finished by then, I'll probably be in the other big, yellow motorglider