Why were the Tuskegee Airmen important during World War 2?

Answer 1

As far as the overall outcome of WWII itself goes the effect of the Tuskegee Airmen was in my opinion minimal. None of the axis powers, combined or individually, had the resources or the industrial might to carry on a protracted two front war, which is basically what the axis was facing and had they war in the Pacific continued the Russians would most likely have gotten involved on that front in greater depth. What The Tuskegee Airmen, along with many of the other African American officers from all the military branches of WWII did in my opinion was pave the way for the changes in American society that culminated in the civil rights gains of the 60s. The combat record of the Tuskegee Airmen while exemplary and even more so considering the circumstances of the day, and certainly deserving of the utmost respect and commendation , is not as important as [URL=http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/acsc/97-0429.pdf]The Freeman Field Mutiny [/URL] and the ensuing changes in U.S. military policy that followed... whether directly or indirectly a result of the "mutiny" itself.

Answer 2

The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military airmen, at a time when there were many people who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism. They came from every section of the country, with large numbers coming from New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. Each one possessed a strong personal desire to serve the United States of America at the best of his ability. Four hundred and fifty of the pilots who were trained at TAAF served overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group. The 99th Fighter Squadron trained in and flew P-40 Warhawk aircraft in combat in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 until July 1944 when they were transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force. Tuskegee's 99th Fighter Squadron became the first squadron of black pilots to face combat in World War II. The 99th arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, on April 24, 1943, more than two years after Congress activated the first black unit.

Under the command of Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the 99th flew its first combat sortie over Pantelleria, an island near Sicily, on June 2, 1943. One month later, Lt. Charles B. Hall scored the squadron's first air victory by downing a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. That victory was tinged with sadness: the 99th lost two of its pilots that day.

Their role in the war was escorting bombers planes to give them security.

Answer 3

The Elite group of pilots flew missions that no other outfit in the Air Force at the time would undertake. Because of their heritage AND the fact that THEY WERE AMERICANS FIRST, they wanted to show they were more than capable of performing the same service or better than their counterparts.

Answer 4

They were the very first black people (not being racist) to fly air crafts for army to fight in WW2

Hope that helps