January 2016 Meeting Reminder

The next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, January 20. We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6PM with business meeting at 7PM.

Our speaker will be Harvey Hawks, an education docent at the Seattle Museum of Flight, who will discuss the social condition of segregation/integration in the 1930's and the growing awareness of the military action leading to war and the need for the Civilian Pilot Training program. The Tuskegee Airmen Experiment was conducted to see if African-Americans could actually perform the complex task of piloting in combat.

In the presentation, Harvey will follow the success of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, later the 332nd Fighter Group, as they operated in the Mediterranean Theater under the leadership of Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. We’ll also learn about local hero, Sam Bruce, namesake of the local Tuskegee Airmen chapter. After victory in Europe, these gentlemen became leaders in the Civil Rights victory at home.

Tuskegee Airmen is the name given to members of the U.S. Army Air Force units in World War II that were comprised primarily of African American flyers and maintenance crews, though a few white officers and trainers were also involved. The group compiled an impressive record, primarily in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, despite facing frequent resistance to their presence in the formerly all-white Army Air Corps. Although the best-known Tuskegee Airmen were the fighter pilots of the 332nd Pursuit Group (99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd fighter squadrons), the 477th Bombard Group (the first black bomber group) was also part of the Tuskegee Airmen. Pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, and instructors all played a role.

We hope to see you at the meeting.