African Americans in the Military
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Before the Tuskegee Airmen, no African American had been a U.S. military pilot. Even getting into the US Military was difficult for African Americans of the time. In 1917, during World War I, African American men had tried to become aerial observers, which was a new job at the time, but were rejected. However, one African American, Eugene Bullard, served in the French air service during World War I, because he was not allowed to serve in an American unit.
Above: Buffalo soldiers of the US 10th Calvary Regiment,
Mexico,1916
The rejections of World War I African-American recruits caused years of support by African Americans who wanted to enlist or train as military aviators. This effort was led by several civil rights leaders such as Judge William H. Hastie, who was a well-educated African American. Finally, in April 1939,a law was passed by Congress containing an amendment which was meant to raise funds for training African American pilots. The United States War Department then put the money into funds for civilian flight schools willing to train black Americans.
Due to the restrictiveness of pilot selection, the situation did not seem propitious for African Americans since, there were few African American pilots in the nation as of 1940. However, the exclusionary policies failed when the Air Corps received an abundance of applications from men who qualified, even under the restrictive requirements. Many of the applicants already had participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), in which the historically black Tuskegee Institute had participated since 1939 (the Training and Origins tab contains more information about the Tuskegee Institute and the CPTP).
War Department policies authorized the segregation of African Americans into separate military units lead by white officers. When these funds created opportunities for training new pilots, there were many people who signed up. In 1941, the US Army Air Corps' first all-black fighter unit was born and constituted; the 99th Fighter Squadron.
The Tuskegee Airmen became the first African American aviators in the U.S. military and were one of the most highly decorated squadrons. They broke racial barriers and are celebrated today as helping integrate the U.S. military and society in America.
Below: A black American MP guard with an Army motorcycle at a United States Military Police station, Columbus, GA, 1942
Above: Buffalo soldiers of the US 10th Calvary Regiment,
Mexico,1916
The rejections of World War I African-American recruits caused years of support by African Americans who wanted to enlist or train as military aviators. This effort was led by several civil rights leaders such as Judge William H. Hastie, who was a well-educated African American. Finally, in April 1939,a law was passed by Congress containing an amendment which was meant to raise funds for training African American pilots. The United States War Department then put the money into funds for civilian flight schools willing to train black Americans.
Due to the restrictiveness of pilot selection, the situation did not seem propitious for African Americans since, there were few African American pilots in the nation as of 1940. However, the exclusionary policies failed when the Air Corps received an abundance of applications from men who qualified, even under the restrictive requirements. Many of the applicants already had participated in the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP), in which the historically black Tuskegee Institute had participated since 1939 (the Training and Origins tab contains more information about the Tuskegee Institute and the CPTP).
War Department policies authorized the segregation of African Americans into separate military units lead by white officers. When these funds created opportunities for training new pilots, there were many people who signed up. In 1941, the US Army Air Corps' first all-black fighter unit was born and constituted; the 99th Fighter Squadron.
The Tuskegee Airmen became the first African American aviators in the U.S. military and were one of the most highly decorated squadrons. They broke racial barriers and are celebrated today as helping integrate the U.S. military and society in America.
Below: A black American MP guard with an Army motorcycle at a United States Military Police station, Columbus, GA, 1942