Tuskegee Airmen

What it is

This photograph shows a group of Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, who trained at Tuskegee and flew combat missions over North Africa, Sicily, and Italy during World War II as part of the 99th Fighter Squadron and 332nd Fighter Group.

Why it matters

The Tuskegee program began only after years of advocacy by civil rights leaders against a segregated military. Eleanor Roosevelt publicly backed the program in 1941 by flying with a Black instructor pilot, a gesture of support at a time when the airmen faced discrimination both inside and outside the Army. The unit went on to earn praise and citations for its combat record.

Look closer

• Why might a public figure flying with a Black pilot have mattered in 1941, before the military was desegregated?
• What obstacles did these airmen face before they were even allowed to train as pilots?
• What does the photograph show about how the airmen presented themselves, and what is left unseen about their training or combat experience?