AMC Airmen take part in Tuskegee Airmen convention

  • Published
  • By Capt. Khalid Cannon
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PHOENIX (AFPN) --  Nearly 90 Air Mobility Command Airmen participated in the 35th Annual Tuskegee Airmen National Convention here July 31 to Aug. 4, celebrating the history of the nation's first black combat pilots.

The event was particularly memorable for one participant attending his first convention.

"I found out after speaking to Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson that my great uncle, Lt. Vincent Mitchell, was a pilot with the 99th Pursuit Squadron," said Maj. Alex Cole, an Air Force Two pilot assigned to the 1st Airlift Squadron.

Colonel Jefferson not only knew Lieutenant Mitchell, but also shared some of his memories with Major Cole and will send him a photo of his great uncle in the cockpit of one the of unit's red-tailed P-51 Mustang aircraft.

"It makes me very proud. My time here has given me an appreciation for the Tuskegee Airmen and makes me thankful for their sacrifices," Major Cole said.

He has another connection to the history-making Airmen. His father completed his flight screening at the Tuskegee Institute with Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen and the first black four-star general. Major Cole's father retired as an Air Force colonel.

"I was honored just to be a part of this," Major Cole said.

Gen. Kevin Chilton, commander of Air Force Space Command, echoed this sentiment during his speech at the Tuskegee Airmen Military Luncheon Aug. 4.

"It's humbling to stand before our nation's heroes. You fought for the right to fight and die for this country, and I'm very humbled by that," General Chilton said. "You showed us the importance of having a drive to put something before yourself. It's that same spirit that has made the Air Force so successful over the past 60 years."

Colonel Jefferson spoke about the fight to be able to serve in the military.

"We had to stand up and demand freedom and opportunity. The progress toward equality started not with the civil rights movement, but with the desegregation of the military. It changed our society and our world," he said. 

Among the 89 Tuskegee Airmen who attended the convention was George Taylor, who flew 250 combat hours including close-air-support missions for Allied convoys into Anzio, Italy. He strafed radar towers and airfields in Greece and escorted bombers.

"Because of the leadership of (Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., commander of the 332nd Fighter Group), we never lost a bomber. We never had an ace during the war because he instructed us to never leave the formation," Mr. Taylor said.

He added that other units' fighter pilots left the formation to pursue German fighters, but General Davis made sure the Tuskegee Airmen stayed true to the mission.

"I was truly proud of the AMC warriors attending and participating in the convention events. We were delighted to represent the command and tell the AMC story, our mission and successes," said Col. Martin Sayles, AMC project officer and deputy director of manpower and personnel.

During the week-long conference, servicemembers attended several forums. One was especially beneficial to Staff Sgt. Kerri Harris, a loadmaster with the 9th Airlift Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

"The military women's forum was very informative. It was great seeing such strong women because I can aspire to be like them," Sergeant Harris said. "One point that they stressed was the importance of balancing military service with your family."

"The panel told us it is not enough for leadership to affect diversity and be role models, but we all need to regardless of rank," she said.