2015 TAI Post Convention Newsletter

October 2015
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
44TH ANNUAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NV
Newsletter
AUGUST 18-21, 2015
President
Brig. Gen. Leon Johnson, USAFR (Ret.)
1st Vice President
Brig Gen Randolph Scott, USAF (Ret.)
2nd Vice President
Vacant
Immediate Past President
Vacant
Financial Secretary
Ms. Michiko Williams
This year's theme was "Celebrating National
Patriots… Cultivating Worldly Potential." The
convention drew over 150 members and
guests of which about 20 were Documented
Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOTAs). This year’s
convention sponsors include Southwest
Airlines, American Airlines, LucasFilms, United
Services Automobile Association (USAA), JW
Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa, GE, and
the US Air Force Reserve.
Convention themed days were Diversity/
Military, Heritage, and youth Day. Activities
included business meetings, youth day,
Chapter operations training , documenting
history, and more. The Exhibit Hall open to
the general public, featured vendor displays
offering related products and services.
Treasurer
Mr. Cedric Flounory
Gathering of DOTAs: An Opportunity to Reconnect
Parliamentarian
SMSgt M. Tyrelle Felder
Public Relations Officer
Vacant
Central Region President
MSgt. Marv K. Abrams, USAF (Ret.)
Eastern Region President
CMSgt. Quincy Magwood, USAF (Ret.)
Western Region President
Mr. Rodney Gillead
Inside this issue:
President’s Message
2
Convention Report
4
TAI USA News
8
DOTA News
12
Member News
18
Announcements
21
Welcome Reception:
The Official Kickoff
Attendees were treated to
great conversation and a
warm welcome from local
dignitaries. Resolutions we rendered by:
 Nevada Lt Governor, Mark Alan Hutchison
 Mesquite, Nevada Mayor, Allan Litman
 City of Henderson Ward I - Councilwoman Gerri
Schroder
News coverage was provided by News 3 KSNV
weekend evening news anchor, Gerard Ramalho.
FROM THE DESK OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, INC.
National Office
Fellow Members,
The recently concluded convention was an opportunity for not just
conducting the business of TAI, but to get reacquainted with old friends
and make new ones. Following the Lonely Eagles Ceremony during the
initial general session the AF Junior ROTC cadets reported on their
Tuskegee Airmen Award Ribbon Program. Their report along with all
the committee and officer reports can be found on our website.
At the Military-Diversity Luncheon, Brig. Gen. (ret) Tim Boddie as our speaker, talked about his
experiences entering the Air Force during the Korean War and the challenges being a black fighter
pilot and commander in the recently integrated military. During the luncheon the following
individuals were announced as the winners of the TAI Military Awards:
GENERAL BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, JR. MILITARY AWARD
Major Robert L. Moore
62 Operations Support Squadron
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
CAPTAIN ROBERT W. WILLIAMS MILITARY AWARD
Captain Tarah E. Cotton
Air Education and Training Command/FM
Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT FRED ARCHER MILITARY AWARD
Master Sergeant Dionne L. Taylor
National Air & Space Intelligence Center (NASIC)
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT MARGARET FRANCES BARBOUR MILITARY AWARD
Technical Sergeant Randy J. Sampson
60th Security Forces Squadron
Travis AFB, California
Major Moore and Captain Cotton were able to attend the luncheon and receive their awards.
Arrangements will be made to have the nearest chapter present the awards to the other recipients.
At the Welcome Reception the attendees were welcomed by the civic leaders that included the Lt.
Governor of Nevada Mark Hutchison, City of Boulder City Mayor Rod Woodbury, City of
Henderson Councilwoman Gerri Schroder, and City of Mesquite Mayor Allan Litman.
The speaker for the Heritage Luncheon was Eastern Region Board Representative Dr. Virginia
2
FROM THE DESK OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT (CONT’D FROM PAGE 2)
Hardy. She led a very interactive discussion of things that could be done to make TAI more attractive
to past, current and future members.
On Thursday morning the General Session opened with Ranger Robert Stewart of the National Park
Service (NPS) updating the attendees on the status of the Tuskegee Airmen National Park and the
impact sequestration was having on the NPS’s capabilities at the park. He mentioned activities at the
site over the next year which can be found on the NPS website which can be accessed through a link
on the TAI website.
The Friday morning General Session started with a presentation by Bill Robinson of the Tuskegee
Airmen Scholarship Foundation. He introduced the new spokesperson for the TASF and presented a
marketing video created for the TASF. The foundation has been actively working through investments,
contributions and partnerships to grow its resources to fund scholarships for students nominated by TAI
chapters.
The Youth Day had a very aggressive agenda that had the participants visiting the MGM Executive
Airport. The Youth Luncheon featured a presentation by Hope Stevens of the Claude Platte Chapter
representing her employer Southwest Airlines the sponsor of the luncheon. During the luncheon special
recognition was given to Central Region youth participant Tyrell Rhodes who passed away shortly
after the convention.
The region award were presented at the Gala, with the following winners announced by the region
presidents.
Eric Mosley - West Region
Robin Rhodes - Central Region
Claude Vann III - East Region
National Presidential Recognition Awards were presented to the following individuals.
General Larry Spencer - USAF Vice Chief of Staff
James E. Love – Department of Defense
The Convention Gala was highlighted by the presentation of the Noel Parrish Award. This year the
recipient was Dr. Ruth Jackson, co-founder of Tuskegee Airmen Archives at the University of California
Riverside and a member of Los Angeles Chapter TAI
The gala featured the return of live entertainment. R & B and soul singer Derek Davis and his Platters
tribute group got many attendees including DOTA’s up dancing during their set after the Gala.
Pictures of this and all the convention activities will be posted here and on our website.
Our 2016 convention will be in Indianapolis at the Westin Hotel the week of 12 to 17 July.
Sincerely,
Leon A. Johnson
Leon A. Johnson, National President
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
3
44TH NATIONAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
First Major Convention Event: Lonely Eagle Ceremony
2014 LONELY EAGLES
Alton F. Ballard
Leroy A. Battle, Sr.
Robert “Bob” Burt
Roosevelt Burton
Arthur Carter, Sr.
William Colbert, Jr.
Milford Craig
Edward P. Drummund,
Jr.
Tesslin B. Foreman
Paul L. Green
Melvin Hardy
James A. Harris
Clarence E. Huntley, Jr.
Clayton f. Lawrence, Sr.
John Leahr
John Moseley
John Mulzak
Allie C. Peek
David Stiles
Joseph Shambrey
Lowell C. Steward, Sr.
Jerome A. Thweatt, Sr.
William A. White, Sr.
Leslie Williams
Eldridge Williams
R. J. Williams
Edward Woodward
By G. Wayne Hedgpeth, LA Chapter, Public Relations Officer
This ceremony is held to commemorate
recently fallen DOTAs designated as
“Lonely Eagles.” The Master of Ceremony
(MC) was Sharon Hunter, President of the
Hannibal Cox Chapter Tuskegee Airmen,
Inc. Prior to going into the full ceremony
Sharon introduced the National President
of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Brigadier
General (Ret.) Leon Johnson who gave
opening remarks. Johnson remarked that
the Tuskegee Airmen experience was not
black history per say “It was American
History” and all should be aware of that.
The solemn crowd was invited to stand
while the Color Guard ceremony honoring
4
the American Flag was presented and
placed. Following the presentation of the
flag all attendees remained standing
while the national anthem was rendered
by Las Vegas entertainer, Mr. Derrick
David. Following the anthem, Pastor Hope
Stevens rendered the invocation. The MC
then remarked that our mission was to
celebrate those members of TAI who have
fallen. Ms Hunter then called everyone’s
attention to stand as the roll call of of
twenty-eight (28) deceased members
who have joined the ranks of the “Lonely
Eagles.”
The Exhibit Hall
44TH NATIONAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Military Luncheon
Business Sessions
5
44TH NATIONAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Public Relations
Col Charles McGee (c), Cadet
Walter Robinson, and Cadet
William Fauntroy sat for a
studio interview from NPR’s
Dave Becker. See the story
at http://knpr.org/knpr/2015
-09/tuskegee-airmen-sharetheir-stories
THE PRESIDENT’S BREAKFAST
HERITAGE LUNCHEON
Dr. Virginia Hardy was speaker. Geraldine
Connally Gilliam (left) was luncheon chair.
THE SPOUSES TEA
Grand Gala
HOPE STEVENS
Youth Luncheon
CLAUDE PLATTE
CHAPTER
“DEREK DAVID'S
TRIBUTE TO THE PLATTERS
6
44TH NATIONAL CONVENTION, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Love Stories told by Tuskegee Airmen Wives
In a world where self help books, CDs and seminars gross more than $11 billion dollars
annually and people turn more and more to the internet for help finding happiness,
friends, lovers, and mates, having the opportunity to listen and interact with women who
have had long loving relationships with their spouses is priceless. We had that opportunity
in Las Vegas.
The stories told by wives of Tuskegee Airmen helped us find laughter, smiles, and hope with
a few tears of joy. The stars of this event were Shirley Driver, Sallie Pratt, Amelia
Montgomery, Faye J. McDaniel, Gwenelle Spann, Patt Terrelongue and Kim Russell. Patt and
Kim were not wives, it just so happens that they are both daughters of Tuskegee Airmen.
Kim moderated the event and Patt read a love letter written by her dad to his sweetheart,
her mom. Here’s how it went…
We walked in smiling with great anticipation and came out happy flitting about like
brilliantly colored butterflies on a clear day. New friendships were created and old
friendships strengthened that afternoon.
For two hours, I sat in a hotel dining area with more than fifty women and men listening to
“getting to happy” love stories. One by one each wife took center stage and shared how
she and her beloved met and courted. We could have been sitting in their family rooms
drinking tea or lemonade having a conversation.
Their stories are unforgettable. Darlene DeFour videotaped the afternoon and one day
we’ll share it with you. In the meantime, for the next few weeks I will share a little sizzle
from each of the stories.
Excerpt from the courtship of Sallie and James Pratt
Mrs. Sallie Pratt, a great storyteller, had us smiling immediately. One of the things we heard
about was the first meal she prepared for Mr. Pratt when they started courting. The
invitation was for lunch and her famous chicken soup. When Mr. Pratt sat down for chicken
soup, he saw a beautifully prepared table and then…a feast! There, next to the chicken
soup, was cornbread, fresh out of the oven yeast rolls, a roast, greens, macaroni and
cheese, sweet potato pie, and a little New York cheesecake. Sallie, you are priceless!
7
TAI NEWS FROM ACROSS THE USA
TUSKEGEE AIRMAN FLOYD COLLINS TO
TAKE SPECIAL FLIGHT TO HONOR SERVICE
MYfoxDC.COM Posted: Jul 13, 2015 8:57 AM CDT
Updated: Jul 13, 2015 8:57 AM CDT
GAITHERSBURG, MD—A dream will come true for
a man who served his country with honor. 94-year
-old Tuskegee Airman Floyd Collins went on one
last flight in Gaithersburg. Collins was originally
scheduled to fly earlier, however, weather forced
his flight to be re-scheduled. Collins first joined
the Tuskegee Airmen when he was 18-years-old.
He says he is looking forward to the flight and says
he wouldn’t mind taking over the controls and
flying the plane himself!
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL PLAZA DEDICATION September 5-6, 2015
COMMEMORATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE “FREEMAN FIELD MUTINY” at
FREEMAN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT which was the
FORMER FREEMAN ARMY AIRFIELD was the site of
the Freeman Field Mutiny), SEYMOUR, INDIANA. The
celebration program included
* Screening of the Documentary Movie “Double
Victory” Tuskegee Airmen at War (Sponsored by
Veterans of Foreign Wars) in the Seymour High
School Auditorium
* Plaza Dedication Ceremony at Freeman Municipal
Airport
* Dedication Ceremony featured
*The 113th Army Band from Fort Knox, Kentucky.
* Congressman Todd Young – 9th District Indiana
* Indiana National Guard Special Ceremonial Unit with Cannon
*Special Presentation: Mr. Leslie Edwards – One of the Original Tuskegee Freeman Army
Airfield Airmen
*Mr. Tony Kirkland Special Assistant to Indiana Governor Mike Pence
*Ms. Melanie Radcliff-Douglas - Regional Director to United States Senator Joe Donnelly
*Indiana Patriot Guard Riders
*(Ret) Brigadier General Leon Johnson – National President Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
[by Timothy Molinari at [email protected]]
8
TAI NEWS FROM ACROSS THE USA
Maintaining a Legacy
Air Force pilots in training find inspiration in squadron’s Red Tails history
BY CHRIS WARREN
Before students with the 99th Flying Training
Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph even
enter the cockpit or take a T-1A Jayhawk up into the
air, they get a history lesson. Tasked with producing
instructors capable of teaching the Air Force’s newest
navigators and pilots, the training squadron is a
descendent of the 99th Pursuit/Fighter Squadron, the
first of four African-American units known collectively
as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Lt. Col. Oliver Johnson, the commander of the
99th, emphasizes that lineage from the moment the
around 120 students he and about 60 instructors
teach each year walk into hangar 12, the squadron’s
home. “During our welcome briefing, I give them a
history and a mini-tour of the squadron,” says
Johnson, who has headed up the 99th since 2012. “I
tell them they are in the presence of historical giants,
the epitome of American heroes with all they did to
overcome racial barriers and discrimination at home
and Nazism overseas.”
Indeed, not only did the Tuskegee Airmen’s
launch in 1941 set the stage for the eventual
desegregation of the armed forces by President Harry
Truman in 1948, the nearly 15,000 pilots, mechanics
and support crew spearheaded over 1,500 wartime
missions in Europe and North Africa. Mementos of
the Tuskegee Airmen’s accomplishments are
everywhere. There’s a mural in hangar 12 with
hundreds of photos of the airmen and their aircraft,
plus autographs from Tuskegee Airmen, and the
squadron’s auditorium is named after Gen. Benjamin
O. Davis Jr., referred to as the father of the Tuskegee
Airmen and a commander of the 99th Fighter
Squadron and 33nd Fighter Group during World War
II. In addition, the nametags worn each day by
instructors and students have the image of a P-51
decorated with a red tail, an aircraft synonymous
with the airmen (a 2012 movie called Red Tails told
the story of the Tuskegee Airmen).
While preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee
Airmen (known as the Documented Original
Tuskegee Airmen or DOTA when their service records
have been officially verified) with stories and
memorabilia is important, Johnson also emphasizes
the need to maintain personal relationships with the
surviving airmen themselves. There are six Tuskegee
PHOTO COURTESY U.S. AIR FORCE
Airmen in the San Antonio area, and they make
periodic visits to Randolph. In June there were a
series of events honoring the airmen at the base,
including a reception and a dinner to benefit the San
Antonio Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.’s
educational initiatives. A few of the surviving airmen
even went up in the squadron’s red tail airplanes.
Honoring their history also occurs in less obvious
ways. A few years ago, a surviving Tuskegee Airman
was being given a tour of the squadron’s memorabilia
and requested that a Coke bottle be added to the
collection. Discrimination during World War II meant
the Tuskegee Airmen were barred from entering base
clubs for officers and enlisted men. “Coke became a
rallying symbol for them. They would fly missions and
land and sit around together and debrief and have a
Coke,” says Johnson. Now, when students or
instructors do a good job, Johnson gives them a
bottle of Coke as recognition.
The connection to the Tuskegee Airmen isn’t just
limited to those in the 99th, either. Col. Matt Isler,
commander of the 12th Flying Wing at Randolph,
says the airmen have set a bar that everyone on base
aspires to everyday. “They set the standards of
airmanship, leadership and professionalism that we
uphold today,” he says. “Their service reminds us
daily of the dignity and respect required of every
airman. Their success, courage and heroism, in and
out of combat, inspire us to be better leaders and
professionals.” This article appears in
the July 2015 issue of San Antonio Magazine
9
TAI NEWS FROM ACROSS THE USA
Finding a P-51 Crash Site
PORT HURON, Mich. (AP)
— Kamau Sadiki traveled from
the nation's capital to Michigan to
join a dive team charged with
officially documenting for the first
time the wreckage of a plane that
was piloted by a member of the
famed Tuskegee Airmen.
For the civil
engineer and
underwater diving
enthusiast from Silver
Spring, Maryland, the
trip represented much
more than 400 miles.
Helping record a
piece of history about
America's first black
military pilots was "a
spiritual journey," he
said.
Sadiki was part of a sevenperson team that spent a week
under the waters of Lake Huron
detailing what remains of the P39 that crashed during a training
exercise seven decades ago,
killing the airman.
The team included Wayne
Lusardi, the state of Michigan's
maritime archaeologist and the
dive's principal investigator;
Stephanie Gandulla, an
archaeologist with Thunder Bay
National Marine Sanctuary in
Alpena, Michigan; and Sadiki
and four other members of
Diving with a Purpose, a
nonprofit that works to conserve
and protect maritime history with
an emphasis on AfricanAmerican contributions.
For all seven members of
the team, the August expedition
was a labor of love."I literally
underwater got tears in my
for the airman who lost his life.
Erik Denson came up with his
eyes," said Jay Haigler, a
own way of remembering Moody,
member from Washington, D.C., organizing an informal memorial
describing his reaction to seeing service on the boat on one of the
the remnants of the plane resting dive days.
on the lake bottom.
Denson is a longtime
The aircraft was piloted by
admirer of the Tuskegee Airmen,
2nd Lt. Frank Moody, a 22-year- going as far as to collect
old from Los Angeles whose
members' autographs at a
convention.
"They were heroes — true
American heroes," said Denson,
a NASA engineer from Oviedo,
Florida, whose 15 to 20 airmen
signatures are among his "most
cherished possessions."
Denson brought aboard a
wreath, passing it around to
other divers, who said a few
words in memory of a man none
of them ever met.
body washed ashore in Port
"We come to this solemn
Huron a few months after the
place
to say, 'Thank you,' for
April 11, 1944, crash.
your service, your honor, your
The wreckage, which
courage, your determination. ...
includes the engine, tail, wings, a
May your spirit and soul rest in
radio and other parts, was
eternal peace," said Sadiki, who
discovered a year ago by a
has traveled the globe in search
father-and-son dive team, but
of remnants of African slave
hadn't been archaeologically
ships and other vessels.
documented until last week's
Another diver, Dr. Melody
outing.
Garrett, an anesthesiologist and
David Losinski, a helicopter
Air Force veteran from Fort
pilot with the Oakland County
Washington, Maryland, said she
sheriff's office, and his son,
hoped the work the team did
Drew, were assisting the
would help "tell (Moody's) story."
Michigan Department of
Denson tossed the wreath
Environmental Quality on an
overboard,
and the seven
unrelated matter when they
stumbled upon the wreckage of watched in silence as it slowly
drifted away, bobbing across the
Moody's plane. The Losinskis
contacted the state and have
worked to help protect the site,
assisting Lusardi and the team
with their work.
"It's a part of history," said
David Losinski, who hopes to
erect "some type of monument
10
TAI NEWS FROM ACROSS THE USA
DOTA HILL MOTIVATES YOUTH
GENERAL LLOYD W. “FIG” NEWTON CHAPTER FOCUS ON YOUTH
By Lt Col Eric Amissah, President
The Chapter’s hands on, minds on,
full immersion Summer Aviation
and Space Camps introduce young
people to the exiting world of
aviation and aerospace. These
camps inspire excitement for and
a desire to pursue careers in the
critical fields of Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM).
They provide testable, standards
linked, classroom-based
academics coupled with relevant
practical applications utilizing low
and high-end simulators, handson projects, one-of-kind tours,
aircraft flights, rocket and high
altitude balloon launches, and
career synopsis by professionals in
many aviation and aerospace
fields.
Col. Alvin Drew (USAF Ret & NASA
Astronaut) and related
ceremonies are decided highlights
for the year. Brigadier General
Salas, New Mexico National Guard
(TAG) officiated the Chartering
and Graduation events and
Albuquerque’s own Mayor
Richard J. Berry was the keynote
speaker for graduation.
BY Charles Lumpkin, Jr. The
Tuskegee Airmen at the National
Association of Black Scuba Divers
(NABS) Youth Summit hosted
DOTA Ezra M. Hill . The man was
one of the original Tuskegee
Airman (Red Tails). The gold
medallion that he was holding is
the highest form of reward that
can be given to anyone in the
military and it was given to all the
Tuskegee Airmen. NABS/YES had
the honor of meeting DOTA Hill.
students in New Mexico towards
taking a greater interest in STEM
education and careers. Chapter
members presented STEM talks in
11 local area schools and other
venues in 2015 and over 300
students have participated in its
Camp cadets get a first hand look at Air Force Aerial Delivery equipment
summer programs in the past
The Chapter is committed to
seven years. The chapter has also
helping the youth of New Mexico, awarded over $27,500 in
to resolving the deficit of African- scholarships since 2000.
American and minority pilots/
aviators, and to the
encouragement of underserved
11
DOTA NEWS
DOTA LT COL ELDRIDGE F. WILLIAMS PASSES AWAY
By Richard P Hall; President, Miami Chapter and Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald — DOTA Eldridge Williams died in his
said. “This was a man who entered
this world under adverse
Miami home while under hospice care. Eldridge was circumstances and encountered
97 and leaves one
numerous others, nevertheless
daughter. The Miami
made decisions and choices that
Chapter of Tuskegee
resulted in a level of success for
Airmen Inc (MITAI)
himself and a record of providing
assisted in funeral
assistance to others.”
arrangements held July
Indeed, after serving during World War II — after
20, 2015. Arlington is the Congress passed an act in 1941 to compel the U.S.
target final resting place. Army Air Corps to train blacks at the Tuskegee
His companion of 17
Institute in Alabama — Williams once again served
years, Rosa White, was by his country during the 1948 Berlin Airlift and again in
his side. “He made great the Korean War.
choices in life,” White
DOTA RAYMOND WILLIAMS PASSES AWAY
By Wanda Hightower, Recording
Secretary, Atlanta Chapter — On
Friday morning, June 26th, DOTA,
Mr. Raymond “Ray” Williams was
promoted to the status of “Lonely
Eagle”. Funeral services were July
6, 2015 in Marietta, GA. As one of
the first African American military
aviators, Mr. Williams played a
vital role in disproving the belief of
the inferiority of blacks. He was
quoted as saying, “We
straightened that out!” America is
indebted to Mr. Williams for his
service and courage. Our Chapter
has lost a DOTA, America has lost a
hero, but most importantly this
family has lost a loved one.
DOTA WILLIAM K. GRAY PASSES AWAY
By Rick Sinkfield President, San
Antonio Chapter — DOTA Capt (ret)
Gray graduated from the Murrell
Dobbins Vocational School in
January 1943 as a commercial
artist. He was drafted in December
1943, selected as an Aviation Cadet
and completed basic training at
Keesler Field. After Bombardier
training at Tuskegee, he completed
the Flexible Gunnery School at
Tyndall Field, Florida in December
1944. Then came Advanced
Bombardier training at San Angelo,
Texas where Mr. Gray finished as
one of only 6
“colored” cadets in a
Class of 114 and was
appointed a Flight
Officer. Mr. Gray
was then assigned
to primary pilot
training in Class 46-A
at Tuskegee, flying
out of Moton Field. The end of
World War II ended his aerial
training and in February 1946 he
separated (initially) from the
military.
Mr. Gray then used his artistic
abilities, working for the
Philadelphia Tribune and the
12
Dee Siffer’s 36" x 24" fine art Poster Design of
Tuskegee Airmen accepted into the
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Pittsburgh Courier, until his Cadet/
Flight Officer experiences brought
him back to the military in
September 1947 as a Sergeant
performing duties in teletype,
cryptography, and special services.
In the spring of 1952, 2nd
Lieutenant
(later Captain)
Gray was
commissioned
in the Air Force
Reserve, from
which he retired
after 28 years in
June 1973.
DOTA NEWS
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN TELL THEIR STORY
First-class flyers treated as second-class citizens despite service
By David Patch, Toledo Blade Staff Writer— Just because
the black pilots trained in Tuskegee, Ala., had been
approved to fly World War II combat missions didn’t mean
they were suddenly treated as equals to white pilots in the
Army Air Corps, a member of the black unit recalls.
“We still caught hell because we were segregated and
discriminated,” Alexander Jefferson, one of three surviving
members of the historic Tuskegee Airmen, said during the
kickoff Thursday morning of a four-day exhibit at Toledo
Express Airport commemorating the unit. “We got kicked
out of Selfridge [Army Air Base in Michigan] because we
wanted to go to the
officers’ club.”
Mr. Jefferson, now
93, particularly recalls
the two-star general
who stated there
would be no
interracial
socialization at
Selfridge “as long as
I’m in command,” and
how, after his unit was transferred to South Carolina,
white soldiers with rifles lined up along a station platform
to escort them off the train. The South Carolina soldiers
had falsely been told that the black officers had rioted in
Michigan, he said.
“Here we are, second lieutenants, and we’re being treated
as criminals,” said the retired Air Force Reserve lieutenant
colonel from Detroit.
Despite such treatment, however, the Tuskegee Airmen —
officially the 332nd Fighter Squadron — earned renown
for flying fighter support in P-51C Mustangs for Allied
bombing missions over southern Germany and Austria in
1944 and 1945.
The Tuskegee Airmen’s story is told in RISE ABOVE, a
traveling exhibit that is the centerpiece this year of
Aviation Week at the airport, which began Thursday and
runs through Sunday. The free exhibit, which includes a
15-minute film summarizing the unit’s history and a
working example of the P-51C aircraft, is set up at the
Grand Aire headquarters on West Airport Service Road,
west of the airport’s passenger terminal.
Aviation Week also included an open house at the Toledo
Public Schools’ Aviation Center, which annually graduates
a dozen or more students trained in aircraft mechanics.
Harold Brown, 91, a fellow Tuskegee Airman who
remained on active duty with the Air Force until 1965 and
also retired as a lieutenant colonel, said there was no
exaggeration in Mr. Jefferson’s description. Yet he said
even then, he harbored no ill feelings about fighting for a
nation that, at the time, treated him as a second-class
citizen. Both he and Mr. Jefferson even spent time in
German prison camps after their planes were shot down
on separate missions.
“It was a way of life,” Mr. Brown said. “You can live with it,
and do the best you can, or you can constantly complain. I
had a life to live. You can learn to live under any
conditions. I learned to live as a prisoner of war, hungry
most of the time I was there.” And Irving Green, a native
Toledoan who was a mechanic with the 332nd during his
four years of Air Corps service, said it was just as rough at
bases in
Kentucky and
Texas —
“especially
down in Texas”
— but he
remains proud
to have served
his country.
These days, Mr.
Green said,
“Most places are
pretty good, pretty equal.”
Mr. Green, 91, did not speak at an opening ceremony as
Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Brown did, but he did take the stage
with them to receive copies of proclamations from the city
of Toledo and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority,
which respectively own and operate Toledo Express. Mr.
Jefferson said he uses his background of having challenged
the established order to urge young people to try to
advance themselves while following society’s rules.
“It’s still the best damned game in the world. Learn how to
play the game,” he said. Col. Chris Belli, commanding
officer of the 180th Fighter Wing at Toledo Express, said
the Air Force today is keeping the Tuskegee Airmen’s
legacy alive. It re-established the 332nd Fighter Group in
Iraq, the colonel said, while a fighter wing in Birmingham,
Ala., flies two F-16 fighter jets adorned with the red tails
that became the 1940s-era 332nd’s signature.
13
DOTA NEWS
DOTA SPOTLIGHT: LEO GRAY STAYS INVOLVED WITH TAI
Lt. Col. (ret) Leo R. Gray had made significant
contributions to the warfare of this country
throughout his military and civilian careers. Soon after
high school graduation, Lieutenant Colonel Gray joined
the Army Air Corps and began his
aviation cadet training in 1943.
Little more than a year later he
graduated from the Tuskegee
Army Air field as a Second
Lieutenant, single engine
pilot. The Tuskegee Airmen were
the 332nd Fighter Group and the
477th Bombardment Group of
the U.S. Army Air Corps.
While stationed in Italy as a
fighter pilot, Gray flew 15
combat missions in P-51s for a total of 750 hours flying
time. He left active duty in 1946, but remained in the
USAF Reserves until 1984. During his 41 years of
military service, Lieutenant Colonel Gray earned a
Coveted Air Medal with one Oak Leaf cluster and a
Presidential Unit Citation. Gray earned a Bachelor’s
degree from the University of Massachusetts in 1950, a
Masters degree from the University of Nebraska in
1952, and did post graduate
work at the University of
Maryland from 1962-1964. He
began his 30 year career with
USDA in 1953 as a Technical
Assistant at the University of
Massachusetts, Agricultural
Extension Service.
Gray wore many hats in the
USDA career. Gray served as
an agricultural economist
with the Economic Research
Service, an economist with APHIS in California, and as
Director, Program Planning Office of the Food Safety &
Inspection Service to mention a few. He remains an
active, valued and involved member of TAI.
MS LEE WORKED AT TUSKEGEE DURING WWII
E. Theophia Hicks Lee, Age 95, was born
on February 5, 1920 and passed away
on Monday June 1, 2015. From 1973 to
1985 she was an Administrative
Assistant at Howard University Hospital.
She and her husband of 51 years, Philip
F. Lee raised four sons; Philip F. Lee, II,
Andre W. Lee, Elwin C. Lee and Fredric
O. Lee. She was devoted to Hampton
University where she graduated in
1942, and the East Coast Chapter of the
Tuskegee Airmen. In 2007 she received
the nation's highest civilian award, the
Congressional Gold Medal, for her 1943
to 1946 war time work in Tuskegee
Alabama.
DOTA WILLIAM BROADWATER JOINS THE LONELY EAGLES CHAPTER SEPTEMBER 2015
DOTA William Broadwater, one of the
founding members of TAI, former TAI
President, and listed on the
1975 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION of
TUSKEGEE AIRMEN, INC. joined the
Lonely Eagle Chapter 23 September
2015. Service arrangements are still
pending and will be published as soon
as they are received. “Knowing Bill was
a pleasure. He could make you smile
and laugh. His warm and friendly
personality won me over the first time I
14
met him at a TAI Board of Directors
meeting in 2002. He loved his
comrades and enthusiastically
supported TAI in the 70s, 80s, 90s and
early 2000s. We shared some fun and
funny times. I remember a very funny
experience with Bill Broadwater, Bill
Holloman, and Bill Mills at the 2006
convention in Phoenix. I am still
laughing. Tess and Rich Spooner might
remember it too!
DOTA NEWS
DOTA CORPORAL WILLIAM R. WHITE SR. PASSES AT 88
While assigned to the 477th Bombardment Group,
PFC White observed the racial tension, disharmony
and distrust that plagued the Group. When he went
into town, he was required to sit at the back of the
bus. As a direct result of growing tension, the 477th
never became combat ready before the end of the
war. And although PFC White had not been drafted
during the so called “Battle at Freeman Field” in
Indiana (where between April 15-20, 1945, a battle
of sort ensued over the use of the white only
Officers Club by black officers assigned to Freeman
Field, Seymour, IN), he recognized that he did
benefit from it directly. As a direct result of the 101
stubborn black officers taking a stand at Freeman
Field and refusing to sign a “Jim Crow” based
regulation (voluntarily or under direct orders), which
was punishable by death (64th Article of War), their
collective action was found to be justified and
caused a change in the command of the 477th from a
white officer to one commanded by a black officer
named Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. When WW II
April 1945, He worked on a family farm and later for ended, and after having attained the rank of
the Gwaltney Meat Packing Company.
Corporal, Corporal White was honorably discharged
in December 1946.
In 1945, he boarded a train to Fort Davis,
After PFC White was discharged, he returned to Isle
Massachusetts for “boot camp” training school.
of Wight County and resumed working for the
After successfully completing boot camp four
Gwaltney Meat Packing Company. He used his
months later, he requested to be reassigned to the
Veterans Affairs benefit to purchase his Smithfield,
Army Air Corps at Fort Meade, Maryland. Private
Virginia, home where he and his wife (Elsie White)
First Class (PFC) White’s request was denied because
raised their six children (two of whom are
he was drafted into the Army and was not a
deceased). Twenty-seven years later, Mr. White
volunteer. He was instructed to make his request
resigned from Gwaltney Meat Packing Company and
again after successfully completing training at his
went to work for Norfolk’s Naval Supply Center
next assignment in Wichita Falls, Texas. While in
(NNSC) in 1973. He retired from the NNSC in 1993.
Wichita Falls, TX, While in Wichita Falls, TX, PFC
Mr. White’s honors/awards include the Good
White received Supply Training at Sheppard Air
Conduct Medal and a replica Congressional Gold
Force Base . Following successful completion of all
Medal that the Tuskegee Airmen received as a
his Supply School examinations, PFC White
group/unit from former President George W. Bush.
requested a reassignment to the Army Air Corps. His
Mr. White stayed busy by being active in his church,
reassignment request was approved and he was
sent to Lockbourne Army Air Base to work in Supply spending time with his family, speaking about his
Tuskegee Airmen experiences and helping those in
Warehouse Operations under the 477th
need.
Bombardment Group.
BY T.J. SPANN, Lt Col, USAF (Ret), President,
Tidewater Chapter - TAI & 1st VP, Eastern
Region TAI Board RepWilliam R. White was born
in Isle of Wight County , Virginia on December 14,
1927. He attended high school at Isle of Wight
County, VA. Prior to being drafted by the Army in
15
DOTA NEWS
DOTA CALVIN SPANN JOINS THE LONELY EAGLES CHAPTER SEPTEMBER 6, 2015
Calvin Spann, a Rutherford, NJ native and former
Englewood, NJ resident who was one of the Tuskegee
Airmen, the trailblazing group of African-American
military pilots during World War II, died Sunday at his
home in Allen, Texas.
Lieutenant Spann’s
death at the age of 90
was first reported by
station NBC 5-KXAS,
the Dallas-Fort Worth
television station.
Born in 1924,
Lieutenant Spann left
Rutherford in 1943 to
join the U.S. Army Air
Corps, at a time when
all branches of the U.S. Armed Services were still
segregated. But it was also a time when the
necessities of war had begun to chip away at the wall
of segregation, and he saw an opportunity to pursue
his dream of flying when the Army sent him to flight
training at Tuskegee Flight School in Alabama.
Lieutenant Spann, revealed in a 2012 interview that,
as a child, he was fascinated by the planes he saw
taking off from Teterboro Airport. He read “The
Adventures of Smiling Jack,” an aviation comic strip,
and wanted to do the things Jack did. He learned
about the physics of flying while a student at
Rutherford High School. “I was determined, because
from the very beginning — I don’t know why or where
it came from — but the rumor was out there that
because I was black, I couldn’t learn. I was determined
to prove that wrong.”
Lieutenant Spann earned his wings and the rank of
lieutenant and was assigned to the 100th Fighter
Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, the all-black
aviator unit. From 1941 through 1946, roughly 1,000
African-American men trained at Tuskegee University
to become military pilots.
Lieutenant Spann flew 26 combat missions, including
a 1,600-mile round trip from Ramtelli, Italy, to Berlin,
Germany, in March 1945 that was considered the
longest bomber escort mission of the 15th Air Force.
Lieutenant Spann returned home a decorated war
veteran — among the ribbons he received were the
Air Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation — only to
realize that his race still limited his opportunities to
fly.
Speaking before an audience at the Jersey City Public
Library in 2012, Lieutenant Spann told how he
remained in the Army Reserves until 1961 and wanted
to continue as a pilot, but couldn’t get the flight time.
He wanted to become a commercial pilot, but ran into
the same racial obstacles in the airline industry. It
wasn’t until 1963 that the U.S. Supreme Court ordered
major commercial airlines to hire African-American
pilots.
“I was trying to go to school at nights and work during
the day,” he told the
audience. “I couldn’t
spend the weekends
trying to get a plane
and not get one. They
didn’t allocate enough
planes for people to
get their time in. Not
getting a chance to fly, I
decided to get my
discharge.”
Instead of flying
professionally, Spann
went back to school
and found a job in
pharmaceutical
sales and settled in
Englewood. “We never got jobs [or] positions in life
that were equal to the struggle,” he said in an
interview.
It would be a long wait, but the honors were
bestowed on him much later in life. In 2006, he was
inducted into the New Jersey Aviation Hall of Fame at
Teterboro Airport. A year later, he was among the
Tuskegee Airmen who were collectively given the
Congressional Gold Medal by President George W.
Bush. He would later publish his recollections in a
graphic novel, “Boundless Sky: The Story of Lt. Calvin
Spann,” before moving to Allen, Texas, to be with his
family.
16
DOTA NEWS
CALVIN MORET, LAST SURVIVING LOUISIANA DOTA DIES
NEW ORLEANS - Calvin Moret, the
last surviving Louisiana member of
World War II's famed Tuskegee
Airmen, who was honored with the
Congressional Gold Medal for his
service, died Saturday, according
to his family. He was 90.
As a World War II veteran and link
to the history of the group of
famed African-American military
airmen, Mr. Moret was frequently
sought out to share his story.
'Life's experiences are like a baton
in a relay race, to be received and
in turn passed on,' said Moret in a
2014 WWL-TV interview.
Just last month, on his 90th
birthday, he appeared at the
National World War II Museum as
part of a celebration of the 70th
anniversary of the end of World
War II and V-J Day. Also at that
event, he performed with the
Mardi Gras Chorus, a singing group
of which he was a member since
1970.
"We have lost a national hero,"
Mayor Mitch Landrieu said in a
statement Saturday. "Dr. Moret
was a great leader who made
incredible sacrifices and exhibited
resounding courage. He was truly
an ambassador for the city of New
Orleans. My thoughts and prayers
are with his family and friends
during this difficult time."
Mr. Moret, whose family owned a
printing business in New Orleans,
joined the Tuskegee Airmen in
1943. He had trained to fly P-40s in
preparation for deployment in
Europe during World War II but the
fighting in Europe ended four days
before his group was to embark.
His class then trained for service in
the Pacific theater, but the fighting
soon ended there as well. After the
war, Mr. Moret trained at the
Tuskgee Institute from 1943 to
1944 and was
commissioned as a
flight officer.
In recent years, as
the numbers of the
famed military group
dwindled due to age,
Mr. Moret's role
became even more
prominent, as a
historian and
frequent speaker.
Key to his wartime
story was the battle
the airmen fought not just against
the enemy but also against
ignorance.
'Many people, especially from the
early times, didn't recognize that
black Americans had talent, and
not only talent, but a love for the
country to risk their lives and lose
their lives,' Moret said in a 2012
interview with Sally-Ann Roberts.
While African-American soldiers
and airmen served the United
States armed forces, they followed
different orders at home. Moret
says he fought for the country, but
did not fight the segregation he
faced at home.
'I didn't go sit in front of the bus
when maybe I could have in certain
instances. I didn't go into that
theater and sit in the orchestra
when I was supposed to go to the
balcony. I followed the law,' said
17
Moret in 2014.
Despite that segregation, Moret
says he and his fellow airmen did
not change their view on the
mission before them. It did prompt
questions in his mind about the
state of prejudice around world
during that time. Seeing how Nazi
German treated Jews, and how the
U.S. was treating AfricanAmericans, Moret said he tried not
to let that discrimination seep into
this psyche.
'We were there to protect the
nation and the people in the
nation, it didn't make any
difference to me anyway, if I was
going to protect whites or blacks,'
said Moret.
In 2007, Moret was among
200 surviving members of the
Tuskegee Airmen awarded the
nation’s highest civilian honor, the
Congressional Gold Medal. Moret
was also in Washington in 2008,
invited to take part in the
inauguration of President Barack
Obama.
SEE MORET, CONT’D ON PAGE 20
TAI MEMBER NEWS
RSETA Jeep on display at the Aviation Museum
Ron Spriggs of the Brigadier General Noel F.
Parrish Chapter unveiled a fully restored WWII-era
Jeep as an exhibit in the AVIATION MUSEUM of
KENTUCKY. Mr. Spriggs restored the exhibit and it
is on display along with Kentucky State along with a
Red Tail P-51 Mustang flown by DOTA Lt.Col. Bob
Friend. He was noted for flying140 combat missions
in WWII and nicknamed his Mustang “Bunny.”
The museum is located at Blue Grass Airport,
Lexington. The facility has 20,000 square feet of
display area, a fully equipped shop for aviation
restoration projects and a gift shop. The Museum is a
dynamic entity which includes not only older restored
aircraft and memorabilia, but also air-worthy,
flyable aircraft for the public to enjoy.
DOTA Car stolen; recovered
Sam Clancy, KSDK
ST. LOUIS - The car of a 93-year-old Tuskegee
Airman was recovered Tuesday, about a block away
from where he was carjacked.
Captain John Hayden of the St. Louis Metropolitan
Police Department said a man cutting the grass near
a vacant home on the 1200 block
of Bayard Avenue spotted a car
that he saw on the news, and
called the police. The car, which is
being dusted for prints, was parked
behind the home.
Hayden said the victim is a highly distinguished
member of the Tuskegee Airmen, and Hayden
believes the man was targeted because he is elderly.
The 93-year-old man was robbed then carjacked In
St. Louis late Sunday night. St. Louis Metropolitan
Police say the victim was driving to his daughters
house when he got lost a little after 11 Sunday night.
He pulled his car over to the side of the road near the
intersection of McPherson Avenue and N Sarah
Street to call his daughter. While the car was
stopped, a man approached and entered the car.
That man took cash from the victim, got out of the car
and went into a black, older-model four-door vehicle.
The suspect drove away and the victim followed him.
After a few miles, the victim lost track of the car and
pulled his car over to the side of the road near the
intersection of Page Boulevard and Walton Avenue.
When he pulled his car over, he asked two men for
assistance. When the victim got out of his car to
speak to the men, they got into his car and drove
away.
Detroit Chapter President dies in
small plane crash near airport in
northern Michigan
By Marv K. Abrams, MBA, President,
Central Region
Detroit Chapter President Arthur
Green III of Farmington Hills died
August 9, 2015. Although all details
have not been confirmed, Art left
Detroit at about 9 PM and went
missing around 11, apparently
fatally crashing while on approach
to land at a Harbor Springs airport
near Petoskey, Michigan. Green was alone aboard a
Piper Cherokee. The tragedy is still being investigated
by the FAA and the Michigan State Police.
Member Garners
Award
Major Yolandea Wood, USAF
(Ret.) Technical Management
was recognized at the 2014
Annual St. Louis Section Awards
Banquet Honors & Awards as its
2014 AIAA Section Award/
Lindbergh: Sabreliner Aviation
Civic Category winner.
18
TAI MEMBER NEWS
EDITH ROBERTS PASSES AUGUST 15, 2015
Mrs. Edith Norle Roberts, widow of George "Spanky"
Roberts joined the Lonely Eagle Chapter of Tuskegee
Airmen after suffering from a stroke. She was in the
company of her dedicated family and friends and
received the utmost of care before passing on.
and in 1972, graduated with her Master’s Degree in social
work. She worked for the Sacramento City Unified
School District as a School Social Worker from 1972-1985,
and was the first African-American Social Worker for the
Sacramento School District.
Here is an excerpt from the US Congressional Record
HON. DORIS MATSUI OF CALIFORNIA; IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, Tuesday, August
25, 2015
Edith did extensive work for the George S. “Spanky”
Roberts Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and
founded the “Living History Team.”
She traveled the United States
teaching adults and children about
the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen
and the many hardships they were
dealt in life, from Jim Crow laws and
segregation to her struggles of being
a military wife.
Mrs. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, it brings
me sadness and honor to pay final
tribute to Edith Norle McMillan
Roberts. She passed on Saturday,
August 15, 2015, in Antelope,
California. She was 96. Edith Roberts
was the widow of the late Tuskegee
Airman George “Spanky” Roberts,
Colonel, USAF (Retired), a member of
the first graduating class of the
Tuskegee Airmen in 1942. She lived
a life rife with adversity, but also rich
with adventures and love.
Edith was always a strong advocate
of education. The George S.
“Spanky” Roberts Chapter will honor
her memory by creating the Edith
Roberts Scholarship Award in her
name. Similarly, the Tuskegee
Airmen, Inc. national organization
will create the George and Edith
Edith Norle McMillan was born on
Roberts Scholarship award. These
March 18, 1919, in Gilliam, West
scholarships will help graduating
Virginia. She attended West Virginia
seniors to follow their goals through
State University (formerly West Virginia State College),
higher education and beyond. Nothing made Edith
where she met her one true love, George. She graduated happier than watching young people recognize and
in 1941 with a Bachelor’s degree in music and French.
follow their dreams. Edith was smart, hard-headed,
She joined the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the college proud, kind, funny and loving. She loved a good party, a
choir. After college, she taught at Lakin Boys’
good story, a good cup of coffee, a good meal (with her
Reformatory in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where she ever present glass of white zinfandel), a good laugh, and
conducted second through fifth grade classes as well as
a good nap. She is loved deeply and will be missed
the Boys’ Glee Club.
always.
Edith and George married on March 7, 1942, immediately
following his graduation in the first class of Tuskegee
Airmen. In 1965, the Roberts family arrived in
Sacramento, California. George worked at McClellan Air
Force Base where Edith directed the Military Wives’
Choral Group and sang in the chapel choir. The pair
retired to civilian life in 1968. The family attended St.
Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, where Edith, once again,
took up the post of choir director until 1997. In 1970,
Edith attended the Graduate School of Social Work, CSUS,
I invite my colleagues to join me as I offer my
condolences to her loving family, George Roberts, Jr.,
Lanelle Brent, Michalyn Green, and Leigh Roberts; six
grandchildren, Richard Brent, Heather Mercer, Joshua
Roberts, Margaret Green, Zachari Roberts, and Nathaniel
Roberts; and three great-grandchildren, Kathryn Mercer,
Grace Roberts and Lauren Mercer. Thirty-one years have
passed since she last saw her sweetheart, George. They
have now been reunited once more. This time, it’s for
keeps.
19
TAI MEMBER NEWS
TYRELL T. RHODES, 21, OF FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL, PASSES AWAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2015.
Tyrell was born on January 29,
1994 in Wahiawa, HI. He was a
member of the San Antonio
Chapter. He graduated from
O’Fallon Township High School in
2012; was a student at Lewis
University in Romeoville, IL; a
member of the Tuskegee Airman
Inc. and was a Sports Pilot; and
also a motivational speaker.
He was preceded in death by his
maternal grandfather, Stephen
Sunahara; and maternal greatgrandparents, Charles & Clara
Wataoka.
Tyrell is survived by his parents
Gregory Rhodes of Las Vegas, NV
and Robin Rhodes also a member
of the San Antonio Chapter, nee
Sunahara of Fairview Heights, IL;
siblings, Tiyanna Rhodes of
Fairview Heights, IL, Deja
McDonalds of Fairview Heights, IL,
Jade Rhodes of Las Vegas, NV, and
Jalen Rhodes of Las Vegas, NV;
paternal grandparents, Virgena
Rhodes and Gregory Gray of
Springfield, OH and Elsie HarrisGibson & Benjamin Harris of Las
Vegas, NV; maternal grandparents,
Rosilyn Sunahara of Las Vegas, NV;
maternal great-grandmother,
Josephine Witherspoon; special
aunt, Josie “Joanne” Scott of Las
Vegas, NV; and many aunts, uncles,
and cousins.
MORET, CONT’D FROM PAGE 17
Mr. Moret was honored in 2012
when members of the community
helped pay for and arrange a
special screening of 'Red Tails,' the
movie about the Tuskegee Airmen.
The screening capped off a day of
honors for Mr. Moret, who was
honored by Mayor Mitch Landrieu
and City Council President Jackie
Clarkson. They presented him with
a key to the city and other honors.
'You've been a great ambassador
for the city and of course a great
American patriot,' Landrieu told
Moret. Conscious of the battle
against crime the city is currently
facing, the World War II veteran
gave the mayor a letter with his
thoughts about how to curb crime.
'Somebody somewhere exerted
the influence to make our society
believe any reference to God and
morality in public places is
unconstitutional. And yet
reinstating these values is the only
way that any curbing of crime will
take place,' Moret wrote in his
letter, which he read to the mayor.
'Freedom is not free,' Landrieu
said. 'It comes only when people
make incredible sacrifices and this
is a gentleman who has exhibited
the courage to do that and one of
the greatest battles that we're
having for soul of the city right
now is to make the city safe and to
20
save our children.'
After the war, Mr. Moret and his
brother joined forces with other
aviation enthuiasts and formed the
Pelican Flying Club in New Orleans.
Together the group bought a small
plane, which they kept at
Lakefront Airport.
Mr. Moret and his wife of 60 years,
Berenice Delery Rouege Moret,
were the parents of three children
and had 11 grandchildren and 7
great-grandchildren.. A Mass of
Christian Burial was celebrated on
Friday, September 18 in New
Orleans,
Announcements
Nickolas Ballard—The new face of Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship
Foundation
TASF is very proud to have Nickolas as its 2015
Mobile made the previous year.
National Spokesperson. He is the grandson of original Mass incarceration also devastates millions of
Tuskegee Airmen, Reginald Ballard.
families nationwide. America has the largest prison
The TASF plans to raise brand awareness using social population in the history of mankind, and it leads the
media. Check out the TASF updated FaceBook page developed world in per capita incarceration by far.
and read what our new national spokesperson has to Students' support systems are locked away, fathers
say. at https://
and mothers, brothers and
www.facebook.com/
sisters, students themselves,
tuskegeeairmensf
people who are mostly poor,
non-violent offenders. These
Here’s a message from Nickolas
inmates are often paying an
Ballard, National Spokesperson
outsized debt to society due to
of TASF:
long mandatory minimum
Hi, friends! I have recently
sentences. Meanwhile, the
become the National
Corrections Corporation of
Spokesperson of the Tuskegee
America, the largest private
Airmen Scholarship Foundation.
prison corporation, made a
Thanks to Lynda Sunnye D
profit of $195 million in 2014.
Simpson, I have the
The impediments to academic
opportunity to broadcast our
achievement go on: the rising
mission and message to the
cost of living, exorbitant
world.
medical expenses, the erosion
Our task is simple yet imperative: we provide
of the middle class, mass deportation, unbalanced
financial support to disadvantaged high school
targeting by law enforcement. Behind every one of
seniors who seek a college education. You've heard
these problems are profiteers squeezing the little guy
that one before, "kids need money for college." You for an extra buck. They're not bad people, but their
empathize with the idea, but it may sound a bit tired. actions have harmful effects on those seeking
So let me remind you of the challenges college
upward mobility. There are simply too many who
students face.
invest in failure and exclusion.
First and foremost is cost. According to the College
The good news is you can be a part of the solution.
Board, the average in-state tuition and fees at public You can invest in prosperity. Whether by charm or
four-year colleges and universities increased by 21% checkbook, your charity is needed.
beyond the rate of inflation over the five years from
TASF gives students more than money. We give them
2004-05 to 2009-10, and by another 17% between
2009-10 and 2014-15. The average debt levels for all reassurance that somebody's got their back, that
there's always help. I encourage you to be a part of
graduating seniors with student loans rose to
the vast network of philanthropists that support this
$29,400 in 2012 — a 25% increase from $23,450 in
cause.
2008. That average has since passed $30,000. And
because Congress won't approve lower interest rates, If you can donate, please do. If not, we still love you. I
the federal government made a $50-billion profit
just ask that you share this post to your timeline and
from student loans in 2013. That's more than Exxon like our page. Thank you!
21
Announcements
Airplane museums worth a visit THE HISTORICAL AIRCRAFT RESTORATION
June 21, 2015 8:00 am • By Jim Winnerman Special to the
MUSEUM Maryland
Heights; historicaircraftrestorationmuseum.org
In hangars at Creve Coeur Airport are “an unknown
There is a preponderance of smaller air museums worth
national treasure from the golden age of flight.” The
a visit across the USA, including several in Illinois and
collection includes 65 vintage biplanes and other
Missouri. Many have only a few planes and exhibits, but
historical aircraft. All date between 1917 and 1954 and
they are probably run by experienced pilots and
most are in flying condition with oil pans under the
volunteers eager to talk to visitors. All are destinations
engines catching dripping oil that keeps the motors
for aviation aficionados, but each also offers an
lubricated. They include planes flown by Charles
opportunity for the public to learn about flying. Many
Lindbergh, a 1916 restored “Jenny” (JN-4), a Zenith Z6a
offer volunteer opportunities to help restore historic
biplane has an eight-passenger compartment in the
aircraft. Below are brief descriptions of several air
fuselage, but the pilot flew the aircraft from a cockpit
museums just a short drive from St. Louis. Here’s a
outside and on top of the plane.
quick list:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
NICHOLAS BEAZLEY AIRCRAFT MUSEUM
Marshall, Mo.; nicholasbeazley.org
In 1923 area residents Howard Beazley and Russell
Nicholas formed the Nicholas-Beazley Airplane Co. and
established a flying school that trained more than 3,600
pilots between 1924 and 1931. By 1927 the company
was manufacturing planes. Townspeople purchased the
last remaining NB-3 in 2005, and the plane was the
catalyst for the establishment of the Nicholas Beazley
Aviation Museum, which opened in 2008 where it is
displayed.
PRAIRIE AVIATION MUSEUM Bloomington,
Also on display is a “Flying Flea” and Several large
Ill.; prairieaviationmuseum.org
displays containing more memorabilia about the
Halfway between St. Louis and Chicago, this museum is
airplane industry.
home to eight planes, three helicopters and numerous
exhibits on such topics as float planes, women in
AIRLINE HISTORY MUSEUM Kansas
aviation, aerobatic planes and blimps. The main
City; airlinehistory.org
attraction is the F-14 used in the movie “Top Gun” with
Included is a four-propeller Super G Constellation, or
Tom Cruise.
“Connie,” distinguished by its triple tail design, a DC3, the plane that replaced long-distance train travel
GREATER ST. LOUIS AIR AND SPACE
after World War II, a 400-seat, L-1011, by far the
MUSEUM Cahokia; airandspacemuseum.org
This museum is quite different than most, including its largest airplane to be on display in the bistate area.
location in “Hangar 2,” a 1929 historic brick structure at Displays include a huge collection of photographs,
artifacts, printed material, and audio/visual displays
the St. Louis Downtown Airport (formerly Parks
that present an authentic insight into an era in
Airport.) Early aviators associated with the building
passenger aviation history. Uniforms, galley items,
include Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, Albert
THE CHANUTE AIR MUSEUM Rantoul, Ill.;
aeromuseum.org
Situated on the deactivated Chanute Air Force Base, this
museum is home to more than 40 planes and numerous
exhibits. “A popular plane for visitors is the P51 H
Mustang used in World War II. “ Displays are devoted
to the history of flight before the Wright Brothers,
civilian aviation, the Korean War, the Tuskegee Airmen,
and POWs and MIAs.
Lambert, Oliver Parks, Wiley Post and Amelia Earhart.
See MUSEUMS Cont’d on page 23
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Announcements
MUSEUMS Cont’d from page 22
logbooks, personal mementos and much more bring
the propeller-driven era to life.
COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE — MISSOURI
WING St. Charles; cafmo.org
This museum is one of more than 72 “wings” of the
Commemorative Air Force. Located at airfields
throughout the United States, the organization’s
objective is to honor the men and women who built,
serviced and flew all World War II aircraft by
preserving a complete flying collection of all the
planes used in the conflict. The World War II planes
stationed at include a North American B-25J
Medium Bomber, a T3M-3E, the , an Aeronca L-3
Observation Plane, which was used for enemy
reconnaissance and to direct artillery. For
information on all air museums by state and
worldwide, visit aero-web.org/air.htm or
aerofiles.com/museums.html
Last Name
First Name
M.I.
Address
Apt./Unit
City
State
ZIP Code
Phone
( )
E-Mail
Method of payment
Check
Money Order
FEATURE LENGTH PREMIERE: THE LUFT GANGSTER
An award-winning documentary celebrating the
incredible life story of Tuskegee Airmen fighter pilot
(Red Tail), P.O.W, and
Holocaust eyewitness...
Calendars are $15 includes shipping. Mail your check to:
Yolandea Wood; 2736 Lake Lucerne; Belleville Illinois
62221 * (618) 622-3025 [email protected]
Lt. Col. Alexander
Jefferson, USAF (Ret)
The Greater Cincinnati Chapter presents
The Sixth Annual RedTails Dinner and Dance
Alex is 93 years young,
a national treasure, and
a true American hero.
Sunday, October 18, 2015 - 4:30 pm
at The Riviera Cinema - 30170 Grand River Avenue,
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
$25 per person
TICKETS INCLUDE:
4:30 pm - Light Hor D'oeuvres, photos, soft drinks &
popcorn. Cash bar available.
5:30 pm - 1st Seating - Full length feature film
starring Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson.
5:45 pm - 2nd Seating
ATTIRE: Dressy Casual
Saturday, October, 17, 2015
Keynote Speaker: Jeffrey Blackwell, Cincinnati Police Chief
For additional information contact Donald Hudson 513-681-7802
SEE DOTA ADVICE TO YOUTH
“Tuskegee Airmen Clip for Students”
at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0BWe4VOk.
This video clip by McGraw Hill has been seen in every
high school in twenty states across America to inspire
graduating seniors. Approximately two and a half
million kids are getting to see it every year.
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Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI)
P.O. Box 830060
Tuskegee, AL 360830
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
DELIVER TO:
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI)
National Office
P.O. Box 830060
Tuskegee, AL 36083
(334) 421-0198 * Fax: (334) 725-8205
Administrative Director
Maggie Thomas [email protected]
TAI National Public Relations Team
[VACANT]
National Public Relations Officer (NPRO)
Ron Lacey
Western PRO; [email protected]
Evelyn Kelley-Antoine
Central PRO; [email protected]
Jerry Burton
Eastern PRO; [email protected]
Rick Sinkfield, Layout Editor
Member-at-Large; [email protected]
Photos by:
Alexanders Images, San Antonio Chapter Mr.
Booker Alexander & Ms Carol Alexander
[email protected]
Mr. Basil Kimbrew, Los Angeles Chapter,
[email protected]
"Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the so-called "Tuskegee
Experience” — the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and
maintain combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators,
bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel
who kept the planes in the air.
TAI MISSION
Honoring the accomplishments and perpetuating the history of
African-Americans who participated in air crew, ground crew
and operations support training in the Army Air Corps during
WWII.
Introducing young people across the nation to the world of
aviation and science through local and national programs such as
Young Eagles and TAI youth programs and activities.
Providing educational assistance to students and awards to
deserving individuals, groups and corporations whose deeds lend
support to TAI's goals. TAI also supports the Tuskegee Airmen
Award presented to deserving cadets in the Air Force Junior
Reserve Officer Training Corps Program.
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