What Are The Challenges Facing The Tuskegee Airmen

It is a great honor to have the chance to write about such an amazing group of men who not only made history, but broke through unimaginable barriers. The Tuskegee Airmen, who were members of the segregated black flying division of the Army Air Corps in Tuskegee, Alabama, were faced with many challenges, such as fighting oppression in a foreign country and racism, segregation, and discrimination at home. That alone sets them apart from other members of the greatest generation who served in the military during WWII. These are some extraordinary men who are more than deserving of recognition and respect.

There were white Air Corps officers who strongly opposed black pilots entering overseas combat, demanded segregation in the base facilities,

Boyd was in charge of the only black fighter group in World War II, the 332nd Fighter Group, which he was very unhappy about. The first black bombardment group, the 477th Bombardment Group, was also stationed in Selfridge Field. Colonel Boyd had no interest in reducing the racial tension and hateful behavior from white officers. He actually enforced racial segregation within the base, with hopes of preventing violence. Boyd’s unwillingness to allow black officers to use the Officer’s Club violated the Army Regulation 210-10 and almost led to violence. White officers never allowed black officers to enter an all-white facility by turning them away every time. Colonel William Boyd was then forced to close the club. The racism that challenged the Tuskegee Airmen all through World War II infiltrated the United States, including the War Department. Unfortunately, the discrimination and prejudices in the country are once again at an all-time high. It will take the act of wanting to sincerely understand one another, removing the unfair and hurtful stereotypical perception each race has about the other, and showing compassion and empathy for neighbors to once again become the great nation America is supposed to

Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., who some might say became the most famous Tuskegee Airman, had trained under Colonel Parrish. Parrish led Davis and the rest of the 99th Fighter Squadron into combat. He also led the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Composite Group into war, where again, all of the pilots had been trained under him at Tuskegee. After their deployment and the war was over, Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. remained good friends with Colonel Parrish and the Tuskegee Airmen remembered Colonel Noel Parrish as a great honorable man. Parrish extended Davis an invitation to come back to the Tuskegee Army Air Field to speak at the fourth anniversary of the opening of training taking place there in August of 1945, and Davis agreed. The last time Colonel Davis was at Tuskegee it was when the 99th Fighter Squadron deployed in April of 1943, so he felt anxious and nervous to