[billbears]

The training being in Alabama, it was a wonder that the local people treated the Airman with more respect than the Army did at the time.

I don't find that a wonder at all. As far back as the 1840s, race relations down here were described as being better than in the north

The Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber aircraft to enemy fighters, though it did lose 66 of its pilots

Now that on the other hand is more than amazing

[U S Army EOD]

The saying goes in the South about blacks is they like the man but hate the race, whereas in the North they don't like the man but love the race.

I too grew up in the segregated South and found it not uncommon for a well repected Black man to have more social clout than the so called po' white trash. We had a big KKK orginization where I live and they would go after the low lives and it didn't seem to matter what color they were. They also would protect respected black families from the trouble makers, black or white.

Prior to the Civil War and reconstruction, if you read the history books from that era written by people who lived during that era, you will find a lot of harmony between the races. There are many, many examples of blacks who prospered in the South and who were well respected. This included large land owners, doctors, etc. This was probably the most true around the New Orleans area.

I haven't been able to find that in the North. The only example of notable blacks during that era in the North were politicians or writers.

When I say it is a wonder that the locals accepted the blacks more than the Army, I mean the Army should have done better. The black pilots to my knowledge were not allowed in white officer clubs.

One of my old girl friend's fathers flew B24's during WWII. He on several occasion were escorted by the TA. He had nothing but praise for them. He is from South Carolina.