History comes full circle for black aviators

  • Published
  • By Capt. Wayne Capps
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PHOENIX (AFPN) --  The past and present came together Aug. 4 as black aviators from different generations took part in a historic flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III.

An all-volunteer, black aircrew from the 315th and 437th Airlift Wings at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the 446th AW at McChord AFB, Wash., flew nine original Tuskegee Airmen on an orientation flight aboard the C-17 named "The Spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen" as part of 35th annual Tuskegee Airman Convention in Phoenix.

"This flight united African-American aviators from two very different generations," said Master Sgt. Terry Grant, one of the event planners who is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command's 300th Airlift Squadron. "These original Tuskegee Airmen had the opportunity to witness the fruits of their labor and see today's black aviators doing what they made possible."

The Tuskegee Airmen were America's first black Airmen. At that time, many people thought that black men lacked the intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism to become aviators.

From 1942 through 1946, 994 pilots graduated at Tuskegee Army Airfield in Tuskegee, Ala. Black navigators, bombardiers and gunnery crews trained at various military bases elsewhere in the United States.

Sergeant Grant said that Charleston AFB has a close personal tie to the Tuskegee Airmen because Walterboro, S.C., 40 miles southwest of Charleston, was used as a training base for the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

"I am jealous," said Charles Lane, an 81-year-old original Tuskegee Airman who participated in the flight. "I wish I could give up about 55 years and fly with them."

Mr. Lane, a seasoned war veteran who flew 26 combat missions from Ramatalli, Italy, during World War II, trained as a P-51 Mustang pilot in Tuskegee and Walterboro.

The idea to take an all-black C-17 crew and fly with original Tuskegee Airmen came from the mission's aircraft commander, Capt. Terry Troutman, from the 701st Airlift Squadron.

This mission was about influencing future generations of black aviators, Captain Troutman said.

"There were more African-American pilots in 1943 and 1944 with the development of the Tuskegee Airmen than we have in 2006," the captain said. "This is about getting the word out to younger generations that their goals can be reached."

Eugene Richardson, an 81-year-old former P-40 and P-47 pilot, who also trained in Walterboro, said the flight was "fantastic."

"(The aircrew) did almost as good as I did back then," he said with a laugh.

Mr. Richardson said he felt a special connection with the crew.

"They are close to my heart," he said.

"I am glad that they recognize that it is these old guys that made what they do possible," Mr. Richardson said as he walked off the plane. "It is just a great feeling to see all these black pilots around."

(Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)