House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

Posted:	March 2, 2016 12:20 PM
From:	Representative Stephen Kinsey and Rep. Jake Wheatley, Jr., Rep. W. Curtis Thomas
To:	All House members
Subject:	Resolution Honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen

In the near future, we plan to introduce a resolution honoring the 75th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African-American military pilots who served honorably during World War II. On March 22, 1941, with the threat of involvement in a global war looming, the United States Army Air Corps 99th Pursuit Squadron was activated, becoming the first African-American fighter squadron. After having been trained at a segregated air base named Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, these elite military pilots became known as the first Tuskegee Airmen. As World War II reached American shores, all subsequent African-American military pilots to be trained at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, would be known as Tuskegee Airmen. Eventually, the Tuskegee Airmen would form the famous 332nd Fighter Group, which was also known as the "Red Tails" due to the distinctive red markings on the tails of their aircraft. During World War II, approximately 1,000 African-American pilots became Tuskegee Airmen. Combined, they flew over 15,000 sorties, and lost 66 men in the line of duty, demonstrating one of the lowest loss records of any escort fighter group. On March 22, 2016, Americans nationwide will celebrate the 75th anniversary of these brave pilots who pledged their lives to our country during one of its darkest hours. Please join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation to honor the 75th anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen.
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Introduced as HR722