NCC is celebrating the relaunch of our Aviation Program and Black History Month February 2023 with an exhibit outside President Jordan's office celebrating African American Aviators.
These e-books about the Tuskegee Airmen are available to download and read- just click the title to access the e-book. For more information about individual e-books, click the A-Train is the story of one of the black Americans who, during World War II, graduated from Tuskegee (AL) Flying School and served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps’ 99th Pursuit Squadron. Charles W. Dryden presents a fast-paced, balanced, and personal account of what it was like to prepare for a career traditionally closed to African Americans, how he coped with the frustrations and dangers of combat, and how he, along with many fellow black pilots, navigators, bombardiers, and crewmen, emerged with a magnificent war record. Under the command of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the Tuskegee airmen fought over North Africa, Sicily, and Europe, escorting American bomber crews who respected their "no-losses" record. Some were shot down, many of them were killed or captured by the enemy, and several won medals of valor and honor. But the airmen still faced great barriers of racial prejudice in the armed forces and at home. As a member of that elite group of young pilots who fought for their country overseas while being denied civil liberties at home, Dryden presents an eloquent story that will touch each and every reader. nbspA-Train is the story of one of the black Americans who, during World War II, graduated from Tuskegee (AL) Flying School and served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps’ 99th Pursuit Squadron. Charles W. Dryden presents a fast-paced, balanced, and personal account of what it was like to prepare for a career traditionally closed to African Americans, how he coped with the frustrations and dangers of combat, and how he, along with many fellow black pilots, navigators, bombardiers, and crewmen, emerged with a magnificent war record. Under the command of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the Tuskegee airmen fought over North Africa, Sicily, and Europe, escorting American bomber crews who respected their "no-losses" record. Some were shot down, many of them were killed or captured by the enemy, and several won medals of valor and honor. But the airmen still faced great barriers of racial prejudice in the armed forces and at home. As a member of that elite group of young pilots who fought for their country overseas while being denied civil liberties at home, Dryden presents an eloquent story that will touch each and every reader. nb. You will need to login with your EasyLogin credentials and Okta Verification to view and download the e-book. If you have any questions or issues, please contact a library staff member for help.
"The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the Army Air Corps, serving during the Second World War. African Americans were rejected for pilot training during the First World War on racist grounds. After strong efforts by civil rights leaders after the start of WWII, civilian flight schools were funded to train segregated African American men to be pilots and flight crews. They were trained at five airfields in the proximity of Tuskegee, Alabama, while some of the educational training was completed at the Tuskegeee Institute. They fought to disprove the racist assumption that African Americans could not be successful pilots or fighters.
Almost a thousand aviators went through the program at Tuskegee to become the country's first Black military pilots. These military personnel were not just training to be pilots, with over ten thousand technicians, mechanics, radio operators, bombardiers, navigators, medical personnel, parachute riggers, and others working in military and civilian support roles.
They were dubbed the "Red Tails" for the distinctive paint on the noses and tails of their planes. They saw combat in the North African and European theaters and performed admirably. They fought for victory abroad as well as the end to racism in the US." ( Stephanie Roper)