- Although civil aviation grew steadily from its beginnings at Kittyhawk through the 1920's, military aviation was dismissed as a passing fad after World War I. Despite the warnings of Col. Billy Mitchell throughout the late 1920's and early 30's, military aviation consisted largely of dirigible development. Civil aviation, however, flourished, with innovations in agricultural uses and entertainment.
- Throughout America's history, African Americans have served honorably in its military, very often in a support role. Beginning in the War of 1812, however, units like the Louisiana Battalion of Free Men of Color, the Buffalo Soldiers, the 9th U.S. Cavalry and the 369th Infantry Regiment distinguished themselves, often taking the lead in battle. Many African Americans also served in the U.S. Navy throughout its history. Throughout American history, though, African Americans who served in battle were segregated into separate units and, when the U.S. Army Air Corps was founded during World War I, no training facilities existed for African Americans.
- Tuskegee University, founded by Dr. Booker T. Washington and Dr. George Washington Carver, was by the beginning of the 20th century a leading institution in the South. It also had invested in developing an airfield and civilian aviation program, a rarity for any university of the day. When Congress directed the Air Force to form an all-black combat unit in 1941 as part of the general mobilization, Tuskegee had a large pool of highly qualified civilian pilots and became the training institution for the 332nd Fighter Group of the Air Expeditionary Wing. The pilots, bombardiers and mechanics from Tuskegee served with distinction as the 99th Pursuit Squadron, then the 99th Fighter Squadron in North Africa, Sicily and Italy from April 1943 until July 1944. They did not lose a single aircraft in more than 200 missions. In 1944, the squadron was transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group in the 15th Air Force for the invasion of Europe. Enemy attackers often broke off when they spotted the distinctive red tails of the 332nd's P-40 Warhawk fighters. The unit's awards included the Croix de Guerre and the Congressional Gold Medal.
- The excellence of the 332nd's performance drowned out the critics and racists. White units, short on enlistments, began putting pressure on the Air Force to allow pilots from the 332nd to transfer. In 1948, President Harry Truman signed executive order #9981, effectively desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Although the officers of the 332nd faced continued discrimination and racism when they mustered out and went on with their lives, their examples of bravery, successes in the air and the desire of white unit commanders to enlist Tuskegee trainees in their units made the case for racial equality more eloquently than any executive order.
