USO Canteen Freeper Style Salutes Tuskegee Airmen .... October 22,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

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The USO Canteen FReeper Style
Delivering a Touch of Home

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A Touch of Home

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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

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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.

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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.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Kitty Hawk pronounced ready to deploy

Posted on 10/22/2002 4:53 PM Pacific by GATOR NAVY

Thanks CHIEF!
SALUTE

[tmprincesa]

Due to the rigid pattern of racial segregation that prevailed in the United States during World War II, over 966 Black military aviators were trained at an isolated training complex near the town of Tuskegee, Alabama and at Tuskegee Institute now known as Tuskegee University. Four Hundred and fifty black fighter pilots under the command of Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., (who was to later become the U. S. Air Force's first Black General) fought in the aerial war over North Africa, Sicily and Europe flying in secession, P-40, P-39, P-47, and P-51 type aircraft. These gallant men flew 15,553 sorties and completed 1578 missions with the 12th Tactical U. S. Army Air Force and the 15th Strategic U. S. Army Air Force They were called the "Schwartze Volgelmenschen" (Black Birdmen) by the Germans who both feared and respected them. White American bomber crews reverently referred to them as "The Redtail Angels" because of the identifying red paint on their tail assemblies and because of their reputation for not losing bombers to enemy fighters as they provided fighter escort to bombing missions over strategic targets in Europe.

The 99th Fighter Squadron which had already distinguished itself over North Africa, Sicily, an Anzio was joined with three more black squadrons; the 100th, the 301st, and the 302nd to be designated as the 332nd Fighter Group. Flying from Italian bases they also destroyed enemy rail traffic, coast watching surveillance stations and hundreds of vehicles on air to ground strafing missions. Sixty-six of these pilots were killed in aircraft accidents or in aerial combat while another thirty-two were shot down and captured as prisoners of war.

These Black Airmen came home with 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Legions of Merit, 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple Hearts, 2 Soldiers Medals, 14 Bronze Stars and the Red Star Yugoslavia. They destroyed or damaged over 409 German aircraft, (111 in the air) over 950 units of ground transportation, and Gwynn Pierson leading a flight of four, sank a destroyer with machine gun fire, which was a distinctive achievement. Not one friendly bomber was lost to enemy aircraft attack during the 200 escort missions. This success was unique because no other fighter unit with nearly as many missions could make the same claim

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Be sure to check out Abner's Balloon. She and her husband are FReepers and have a BEAUTIFUL, ASTOUNDING, MAGNIFICENT American Flag balloon."

FReeper abner and her husband are on a mission, traveling in this balloon."We are on a mission to increase interest and understanding of the principles and beliefsthat created our country and allowed it to endure, grow and prosper becoming a bastion of freedom and equality for over 200 years."CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

OOPS!!!
This is the right link.
Kitty Hawk pronounced ready to deploy

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Stay well, Teacup. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Regarding your flight - everything will fine. I'll remember you in my prayers tonight.

[tmprincesa]

Thank you for the good thread today. I may not be able to read everything, but I do read the opening post every day. Back to my studies.

SOUTHWEST ASIA (ACCNS) -- Staff Sgt. Robert Tomlin, a dog handler with the 30th Security Forces Squadron, poses with Dar-Garo on an aircraft ramp at a deployed location in Southwest Asia. Tomlin and other members of the squadron, based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron as part of Joint Task Force Southwest Asia. Dar-Garo is a 3-year-old Belgian shepherd trained to help protect deployed people. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dawn L. Collazo)

[Kathy in Alaska]

THANKS FOR A LINK THAT YOU CAN SEE TO FOLLOW. I made one, but saying "Click Here" would have helped. LOL! That is so cool to have the picture with it too. I would love to see their balloon up close and personal.

[Kathy in Alaska]

That's my kid!! Wonderful rant, kiddo. You get an "atta girl"!

[SAMWolf]

Now that's some great "babbling", MoJo.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hi zip. Hope you had a good day today. I knew OF the Tuskegee Airmen, but not ABOUT them. Today's thread was sure a learning experience. Thanks to everyone who brought information.

[SevenofNine]

Good evening Canteen members

Here some late night headlines a report off Hareetz wire is reporting that Israel said that they be ready when US going after Saddam be ready to protect of all cost State of Israel according to IDF spokerperson

Saddam is toasted LOL!

[GatorGirl]

Okay, I've actually gotten caught up in the sewing and plan to finish it all tonight. So goodnight! Have fun! GG

[SAMWolf]

Good night, GG.

[Dakmar]

BWAAAHAAHAA, I need a giant flying elephant, too. Here's some more

Tuskegee Airmen pics, enjoy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good night and sleep well, GG. God bless you and your family good. Loe and ((HUGS))

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hey, History Major, thanks for adding more history for us today about the Tuskegee Airmen.

[Soaring Feather]

For the Troops and Canteen Crew

Keep Your Motivation

It's the steady, constant driving
To the goal for which you're striving,
Not the speed with which you travel,
That will make your victory sure.

It's the everlasting gaining,
Without whimper or complaning
At the burdens you are bearing,
Or the woes you must endure.

It's the holding to a purpose
And never giving in;
It's the cutting down the distance
By the little that you win;

It's the iron will to do it
And the steady sticking to it;
So whatever your task, go for it !
Keep your motivation and plug along !

Author unknown

[SAMWolf]

Thank you for this Bentfeather. It's a big help to me right now.

[Soaring Feather]

You're welcome SAM