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Special Invitations to Obama Inauguration Extended to Legendary Tuskegee Airmen

by Karen Hatter | December 10, 2008 at 06:50 am

966 views | 20 Recommendations | 4 comments

From the New York Times:

"The election of Barack Obama was like a culmination of a struggle that we were going through, wanting to be pilots,” said William M. Wheeler, 85, a retired Tuskegee combat fighter pilot who lives in Hempstead, N.Y. He tried to become a commercial pilot after the war but was offered a job cleaning planes instead.

Mr. Obama has acknowledged his debt to the airmen, issuing a statement in 2007, when they received the Congressional Gold Medal. It said in part: “My career in public service was made possible by the path heroes like the Tuskegee Airmen trail-blazed.”

The invitation to his swearing-in was extended Tuesday by Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who is chairwoman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Click here to read the full statement issued by then Senator Obama regarding the Tuskegee Airmen.

According to the New York Times article, there are 240,000 tickets for the presidential inauguration ceremonies, scheduled for Jaunary 20, 2009. The Tuskegee Airmen will be seated below the podium with 30,000 other guests, including former members of Congress.

Initially classified by the Armed Services as 'Top Secret' in 1942, the first program to train African American pilots, in those days known as Colored or Negroes, was later de-classified in 1958. The Airmen trained and served in a segregated army.

The Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the 'Lonely Eagles', earned fame and honor as they acted as escorts for the White pilots during World War II in Europe, being requested by name for escort duty. The Airmen managed an amazing record; they never lost an aircraft they escorted.

Click here to read the full article.

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harringtola

at 07:11 on December 10th, 2008

Wonderful news. I wonder how many of the original are alive and able to attend. My father was in WWII and was on the young side so is alive and well. Many who served have passed on.

Karen Hatter

at 07:23 on December 10th, 2008

Thank you for your comments and the recommend, Harringtola.

According to the NYT article, 330 Tuskegee Airmen remain, including pilots and support crew.

Most of them are in their late 70s, early 80s.

Amy Judd

at 14:09 on December 10th, 2008

Great piece Karen

dunkelberg

at 15:47 on December 26th, 2008

Their red-tailed P-51 fighter planes were the talk of the bomber crews during World War II. Those planes would stick with the bombers and protect like no other fighter group.
Most were surprised, some were shocked and some were even angry to discover those planes were manned by black pilots known now as The Tuskegee Airmen.

These men, who often were granted less privileges than German prisoners of war, made up the first sqaudrons of all-black airmen, from cooks to fighter pilots.

Thomas Ellis of San Antonio, who was based in Italy with the Tuskegee Airmen, once told me they were treated like kings by the Italians. They would greet them enthusiastically, offering food, drink and respect.

Then, they returned to a segregated America.

At the same time, many white soldiers would refuse to salute the black officers.

"You don't salute the man," Ellis said sternly. "You salute the rank!"

Last year, the Tuskegee Airmen were honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. The recognition has been long in coming and few have lived to see it. Yet, those who are here say, though delayed, the honors are welcome and they will accept them for all those who did not live to see this day.