Were there any black air crews in World War 2 other than the P51 crews?

Answer 1

While it is true that Americans found it hard to accept black men as pilots, the blacks proved themselves to be great fighter pilots. Co. George S. "Spanky" Roberts was the first African-American selected for the pilot training in the Air Corps. He was one of the first 5 to receive his Silver Flight Wings. He graduated from 42-C class and became the 1st Commander of the 99th Pursuit Squad. Born 1918, died 1984. TUSKAGEE FACTS: On July 19, 1941, the AAF began an unprecedented program in Alabama to train black Americans to become fighter pilots. The training took place under the Div. of Aeronautics at the Tuskagee Institute, the school created by Booker T. Washington. The first classes trained to be fighter pilots became part of the famous 99th Fighter Squadron, and were slated for combat in North Africa. Later classes were attached to the 322 Fighter Group, which flew combat missions with the 99th from bases in Italy. They were called "Schwartze Vogelmenschen" (Black Bird Men) by the Germans. American Bomber crews referred to them as "Red Tall Angels" because of their reputation of never losing a plane they escorted into combat. The bomber pilots began to appreciate the Redtails. In "Mustang Aces of the 9th and 15th Air Forces," one B-24 pilot recalled: "The P-38's always stayed too far out. Some of the Mustang group stayed in too close .. other groups, we got the feeling that they just wanted to go and shoot down 109s .. the Red Tails were always out there where we wanted them to be .. we had no idea they were black; it was the Army's best kept secret." By the end of WW2, 992 men graduated from the training program. Of those, 450 served in combat overseas, but 150 lost their lives during training or combat fights. Over 15,000 combat sorties (including 6000+ for the 99th prior to July '44) 111 German airplanes destroyed in the air, another 150 on the ground. 950 railcars, trucks, and other motor vehicles destroyed 1 destroyer sunk by P-47 machine gun fire (Lt. Pierson's flight) 66 pilots killed in action or accidents 32 pilots downed and captured, POWs. NO BOMBER LOST WHILE BEING ESCORTED BY THE 332ND, A UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses earned 744 Air Medals 8 Purple Hearts 14 Bronze Stars *NOTE BY MARCY ... So, in war, or in every day life does it matter the color of one's skin? When someone is saving your butt and keeping you safe we are all brothers and sisters.