This book honors the Tuskegee Airmen, known as "Red Tails" who never lost escorted bombers during World War II. These decorated African American pilots overcame the prejudicial report of the 1925 War Department Study that concluded" Blacks cannot fly a complex airplane." Eleanor Roosevelt who was flown by a Black pilot dispelled these myths along with the success of the fighter pilots in the war.
Two issues are clarified: 1) who is considered an Original Tuskegee Airman? 2) The difference between the two experiments, namely, the Tuskegee Experiment involving the study of Syphilis and the Tuskegee Pilot Experience. This personal account of a Tuskegee pilot provides insights into the struggles of the pilots in the 1940's. Six values anchored their success, namely, intellectual attainment, collective responsibility, creativity, faith, overcoming fear and determination. The unique timelines from 1861 to 2007 enables the reader to decipher the events leading up to the Tuskegee Pilot training and the achievements during and after the war culminating with each pilot receiving Honorary Doctorate degree from Tuskegee University and being awarded the coveted Congressional Gold Medal by President Bush..
This book documents Lt. Col. Hiram Mann's progress from a bellman at a Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio to studying romance languages at Philander Smith College and becoming a pilot in the 99th Pursuit Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. Insights are provided about these pilots fighting the enemy in Europe only to return to a segregated military and civilian life.