How About Some World War II History?

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Tuskegee, Alabama was a beacon of hope in the Deep South for African-Americans. It’s the home of the Tuskegee University, where Booker T. Washington served as the first president of the historically black university (originally named the Tuskegee Normal School for Colored Teachers). It was also the home of Moton Field, which is where the Tuskegee Airmen lived and trained as America’s first all-black Army Air Corps unit. Talk about a place overwhelming in history!? Wow, the National Historical Site at Moton Field, containing photos, audio and video commentary from the Airmen, replica planes and flight simulators, and other items in the hangars where the Airmen worked and trained is just amazing! It’ll knock you over with its rich history and significance. And it’s free. There are “ghost buildings” (outlines of old barracks) to show where barracks had been, as well as a few original buildings that aren’t open to the public. The two hangars, though, are open…and so beckoning for any history buff of World War II or civil rights! The Tuskegee Airmen had to be housed separate from the white soldiers. One of the quotes tells of northern blacks who got a rude awakening to the south’s “Jim Crow” laws when the train was stopped and they were escorted to the rail car “for coloreds.” While they were going to fight for the same country as their Caucasian brothers in arms, and shed the same color blood (red), they were prohibited from going to a lot of places in town because of segregation laws. In fact, one of the interesting stories in the museum is how a group of Tuskegee Airmen officers were arrested for “insubordination” after they asked to be treated the same way a white person wearing the same uniform would be. A photo of the arrest (in Indiana) sparked national outrage, given the heroics of the Airmen during World War II. I asked a park ranger how many Airmen survive today. He said there are six verified still living, all at least 96 years of age; and, although not verified, there may be four others. What a great stop on my trip!!! PHOTO COLLAGE (left-right): (Top) The outside of hangar 2, with the control tower A replica of the “red tailed” planes that distinguished the Tuskegee Airmen in the European war theater (Bottom) A locker featuring the various uniforms worn by the men An informational display highlighting the accomplishments — and losses — the Airmen had during their service.