House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

Posted:	March 28, 2017 04:41 PM
From:	Representative Stephen Kinsey
To:	All House members
Subject:	Re-Draft House Resolution 722 – Tuskegee Airman

In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution designating April 3, 2017 as “Tuskegee Airman Day” in Pennsylvania. On April 3, 1939, in response to advocacy by civil rights leaders and the National Association of Colored People, the United States Congress approved funding designated for the training of African-American military pilots. 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. Please join us in co-sponsoring this resolution designating April 3, 2017 as “Tuskegee Airman Day” in Pennsylvania
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Introduced as HR280