Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

USO Canteen Freeper Style Salutes Tuskegee Airmen .... October 22,2002
FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

Posted on 10/22/2002 12:08:59 AM PDT by Snow Bunny

.

.

The USO Canteen FReeper Style
Delivering a Touch of Home

.

.

A Touch of Home

.


This is how I think of the USO Canteen 
Freeper Style. It is like a cottage down a road,
a place where a weary veteran can spend the night. 


Since it opened, it is magical how so many
Freepers who post here, feel it too. 
It has been so dear how the Freepers
kept making it a cottage - a home-type of 
place that had a huge living room
for them to visit in and a dance floor, 
a library, etc. 


Many Veterans have written to me, 
saying that the Canteen is like home
to them for the first time since they 
served. 


This is your Canteen -
a respite from our busy 
and sometimes troubling world. 
Make yourself at home.

Snow Bunny

.

.

.



If you know a Veteran, someone in your family, 
friend of the family, neighbor, who served their  
country, take a brief moment of your day to thank 
them. 


Thank them for the sacrifice they made
for the better good of their country.


We at Free Republic, and the USO Canteen FReeper 
Style, are thankful for every service member 
in our military, who has served our great nation.


So, to the men and women who answered the call,
In both times of war and peace, thank you.

.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 


John McCrae 

During WWII there were many men that were forgotten.
The Tuskegee Airmen made a major contribution. Where
did they come from?

After their superb flight training, there were a select few
that made a major impact in the war through their excellent
piloting skills. These men are known today as the Tuskegee Airmen.

On Jul. 19, 1941, the AAF began a program in Alabama
to train black Americans as military pilots. Primary flight
training was conducted by the Division of Aeronautics of
Tuskegee Institute, the famed school of learning founded by
Booker T. Washington in 1881.

Once a cadet completed primary training at Tuskegee's
Moton Field, he was sent to nearby Tuskegee Army Air Field
for completion of flight training and for transition to combat
type aircraft.

The first classes of Tuskegee airmen were
trained to be fighter pilots for the famous 99th
Fighter Squadron, slated for combat duty in North
Africa. Additional pilots were assigned to the 322d
Fighter Group which flew combat along with the
99th Squadron from bases in Italy.

In Sep. 1943, a twin-engine training program was
begun at Tuskegee to provide bomber pilots. However,
World War II ended before these men were able to
get into combat.

By the end of the war, 992 men had graduated
from pilot training at Tuskegee, 450 of whom were
sent overseas for combat assignment. During the
same period, approximately 150 lost their lives
while in training or on combat flights.

Additional men were trained at Tuskegee for
aircrew and ground crew duties--flight engineers,
gunners, mechanics, armoires, etc. Others were
sent to Texas and New Mexico for training as
navigators and bombardiers.


Marching across the campus at Tuskegee Institute.


Lined up for inspection.


Student pilot being congratulated
upon completion of primary
flying course at Moton Field.


A class of twin-engine pilots
in front in flight caps and single
engine pilots in rear in helmets
and goggles, Dec. 1943.


The Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum
is located on historic Fort Wayne in Detroit,Michigan.

Who Were the
Tuskegee Airmen
of World War II?

The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated,
determined young men who volunteered
to become America's first black military
airmen. They came from every section of
America, with large numbers coming from
New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles,
Chicago, and Detroit. Each one possessed a
strong personal desire to serve the United States
of America proudly and to the best of his ability
as an airman, even while many other Americans
felt that black men lacked intelligence, skill,
courage and patriotism.

Those who possessed the physical and mental
qualifications and were accepted for aviation cadet training
were trained initially to be pilots, and later to
be either pilots, navigators, or bombardiers.
Most were college graduates or undergraduates,
while the remainder demonstrated their academic
qualifications through comprehensive
entrance examinations.

They trained as operations officers,
meteorologists, intelligence officers,
engineering officers, flight surgeons,
etc. Still others were trained to be aircraft
and engine mechanics, armament specialists,
radio repairmen, parachute riggers, control
tower operators, administrators and for every
other type of skill necessary to function as an
air force squadron, or ground support unit.

The black airmen who became single- or
multi-engine pilots were trained at Tuskegee
Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee Alabama.

Four hundred and fifty of the pilots were
trained at Tuskegee served overseas in
either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later
the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd
Fighter Group. The 99th Fighter Squadron
trained in and flew P-40 Warhawks in combat
in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943
until July 1944 when they were transferred to the
332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force.

The 99th Squadron distinguished itself by
being awarded two Presidential Unit Citations
(June-July 1943 and May 1944) for outstanding
tactical air support and aerial combat in the 12th
Air Force in Italy, before joining the 332nd
Fighter Group.


Berlin escort

The 332nd Fighter Group was awarded
the Presidential Unit Citation for its
longest bomber escort mission to Berlin,
Germany, March 24, 1945. It destroyed
three German ME-262 Jet fighters and
damaged five additional jet fighters
without losing any of the bombers
or any of its own fighter aircraft to
enemy fighters.


This is a picture of Captain Armour G.. McDaniels
who was shot down while escorting bombers to Belin
in March, 1945. He is surrounded (L to R) by Sergeant
Richard Adams, McDaniels, Lt. James McFatridge and
Ulysses Taylor. USAF, Maxwell AFB Archives.

The 332nd Fighter Group had also
distinguished itself in June 1944
when two of its pilots flying P-47
Thunderbolts discovered a German
destroyer in the harbor of Trieste, Italy.
One of the pilots, Lieutenant Gynne Pierson
of the 302nd Fighter Squadron, using only the
aircraft's 50-caliber machine guns, strafed the
destroyer, causing it to explode and sink. This
was another unprecedented aerial gunnery
feat of World War II.

The tenacious bomber escort cover
provided by the 332nd "Red Tail"
fighters often discouraged enemy
A fighter pilots from attacking bombers
escorted by the 332nd Fighter Group.
This resulted in fewer enemy fighter
challenges with resultant fewer enemy
aircraft destroyed or damaged by the
Group, as compared with other 15th Air
Force fighter escort groups. The successful
escort record resulted in frequent expressions
of appreciation from the 15th Air Force bomber
units and crews.



TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: monacofreetedmaher; usocanteen
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 321-332 next last
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Good Evening, Tonk.
201 posted on 10/22/2002 6:59:51 PM PDT by SAMWolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 200 | View Replies]

To: headsonpikes

Congratulations, HOP.

202 posted on 10/22/2002 7:00:49 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

Comment #203 Removed by Moderator

To: headsonpikes

204 posted on 10/22/2002 7:04:00 PM PDT by SAMWolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: coteblanche
Thanks Cote! I have to thank my dear friend Souris for the beautiful mermaid.

Speaking of gifts, have I given you this yet?

I'll be in and out, I remembered I have a date with a sewing machine. LOL!


205 posted on 10/22/2002 7:07:00 PM PDT by GatorGirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 161 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
Evening Sam
206 posted on 10/22/2002 7:09:10 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 201 | View Replies]

To: headsonpikes
"P.S. headsonpikes now happily married man. ;^)"

Congratulations!
May God grant you both a long and happy marriage.
207 posted on 10/22/2002 7:12:02 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: Teacup
Teacup, my prayers are with you for your trip and for the eternal rest of your mother's soul. Love, GG
208 posted on 10/22/2002 7:14:49 PM PDT by GatorGirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 177 | View Replies]

Comment #209 Removed by Moderator

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub
Oops! I knew that. Is less than 3 hours sleep an acceptable excuse? Let me try again. LOL!

Hurrah, tomorrow is Coast Guard Friday Night! (Note to self: Never add an extra day to the work week, especially when Coast Guard Day is so near. LOL!)

210 posted on 10/22/2002 7:17:51 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 200 | View Replies]

To: SAMWolf
Hi Sam. Thanks for always posting those excellent military graphics, and for this....

You are a good and faithful friend. Thanks for everything. GG

211 posted on 10/22/2002 7:19:38 PM PDT by GatorGirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 204 | View Replies]

Comment #212 Removed by Moderator

To: coteblanche; radu; Kathy in Alaska; BringingUpPatriots; Snow Bunny; MoJo2001
Hi everyone! I made it back - thanks for all the hilarious posts.

My top is cotton and spandex, cote. : ) (Like I have any idea. LOL)

Had a super time at the pajama party ride last night. I didn't even throw up on the manual! I knew all along you guys were totally in control. [Cough.]

So I guess we'd better bundle up for this thing tonight, huh? (I'm definitely NOT a navigator on this balloon ride - don't know a thing about 'em!) Who's at the controls?
213 posted on 10/22/2002 7:22:30 PM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 166 | View Replies]

To: Teacup
"Please pray for me."

Prayers for your safe trip.
Know that your mother is with HIM.
214 posted on 10/22/2002 7:23:11 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 177 | View Replies]

To: coteblanche
Actually, we're not going to Oz anymore. LOL!!! I finally got my husband to try the cowardly lion costume on, but because he's been hanging out with Marines, he came home in much better shape and he about ripped the costume. (Think Incredible Hulk!
---well, not really but he might read this at some point---) So we've gone to "plan B". A team of surgeons. We got some of his scrubs (he hasn't been able to wear them much since he traded them for desert camouflage) and cut them down to fit the kids. I just have to sew them back up. Easy, and cheap at the last minute! All that hard work down the drain, though ;-(.

Hey, would you do me a favor and check your freepmail? I have a quick question regarding html. Thanks! GG
215 posted on 10/22/2002 7:23:32 PM PDT by GatorGirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 209 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl
Hi Diagonal FRiend. I hope your agenda is on track.

Please thank Tony for me for his service to our country, and more thanks to you for your service as a Navy wife. Love and (((HUGS)))

216 posted on 10/22/2002 7:24:25 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies]

To: GatorGirl
Thank you GG.
217 posted on 10/22/2002 7:26:02 PM PDT by SAMWolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies]

Comment #218 Removed by Moderator

To: Kathy in Alaska
Hi Kathy, my agenda has exploded into a million smithereens, it was so packed. But the good news is, starting Saturday at approximately 1200 (EDT) my agenda will be completely clear for a glorious seven days.

Hope you're well tonight, glad it hasn't gotten too cold for Junior up in Alaska yet. He's cold blooded so you'll have to take him inside and put him in front of the fire so he doesn't freeze solid.

Okay, off to the sewing machine I go...I'm going to force myself to sew one little pair of pants before I come back....I'll time myself by the post times....LOL!
219 posted on 10/22/2002 7:28:42 PM PDT by GatorGirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 216 | View Replies]

To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet; radu; MoJo2001; Snow Bunny; BringingUpPatriots; AntiJen
I've been up twice. I'll drive. AND THERE WILL BE NO THROWING UP IN OUR BALLOON BASKET!! When I went to return last night's manual I couldn't get some to the indentations of you fingers out of it, so it's a little wrinkled, but you did a good job of reading. No reading tonight. Just look over the side to see where we are going and keep an eye out for Jen. She'll be in the chase car. Be sure to check out Abner's Balloon. She and her husband are FReepers and have a BEAUTIFUL, ASTOUNDING, MAGNIFICENT American Flag balloon.
220 posted on 10/22/2002 7:31:54 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 213 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 321-332 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson