Combat Assignments
Squadron patches of the Tuskegee airmen. From left to right, the 99th Fighter Squadron, the 100th Fighter Squadron, the 301 Fighter Squadron, and the 302 Fighter Squadron.
At first, the Tuskegee Airmen flew missions targeting ground-based locations, vehicles or supplies. The 99th was finally considered ready for combat duty by April 1943. It shipped out of Tuskegee on 2 April, bound for North Africa, where it would join the 332nd Fighter Group. Given little guidance, the 99th's first combat mission was to attack the small volcanic island of Pantelleria in the Mediterranean Sea to clear the sea lanes for the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The air assault on the island began on 30 May 1943, and the 99th flew its first combat mission later on 2 June. The surrender of the of 11,121 Italians and 78 Germans due to air attack was the first of its kind.
The assignment to a predominantly ground attack role prevented the 99th from engaging in the famed dogfights, or air-to-air combat. The unit was later criticized for not shooting down enemy aircraft; Congressional hearings were held on this perceived failure, with the aim of disbanding the squadron. The aim of these hearing failed however, the 99th moved on to Sicily, a small island off the coast of Italy and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance in combat.
The assignment to a predominantly ground attack role prevented the 99th from engaging in the famed dogfights, or air-to-air combat. The unit was later criticized for not shooting down enemy aircraft; Congressional hearings were held on this perceived failure, with the aim of disbanding the squadron. The aim of these hearing failed however, the 99th moved on to Sicily, a small island off the coast of Italy and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance in combat.
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By the end of February 1944, more graduates were ready for combat, and the brand new all-black 332nd Fighter Group had been sent overseas. The 332nd was made of three fighter squadrons, the 100th, 301st and 302nd. Under the command of Colonel Davis, the squadrons were moved to mainland Italy, where the 99th Fighter Squadron joined them on June 6 at Ramitelli Airfield, near Termoli after they were assigned to the group on May 1, 1944. From Ramitelli, the 332nd Fighter Group escorted Fifteenth Air Force heavy strategic bombing raids into German-occupied countries such as Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Germany.
Above Right: several Tuskegee Airmen receiving a pre-flight briefing at Ramitelli Airfield, c. 1945
The 332nd Fighter Group flew 179 bomber escort missions from June 1944 through the end of the war. The Tuskegee Airmen proved especially valuable in this role. While on escort missions, Davis' airmen performed with great skill and courage, on one occasion shooting down 13 German fighters. But despite its success, the 332nd was often outnumbered. On one mission, Davis' 39 aircraft attacked more than 100 German fighters, shooting down five and for the loss of one and earning Davis the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery and leadership.
Tuskegee's airmen faced the best the Luftwaffe had, including the first jet fighters. On March 24, 1945, as the 332nd became one of the first Italy-based fighter units to escort a group of B-17s all the way to Berlin and back, while meeting 25 German Me 262 jets. In the ensuing combat, three jets fell and the 332nd lost only one P-51. Significantly, the 332nd had completed the full 1,600-mile mission, for which it earned the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Below: The Messerschmitt Me 262
Above Right: several Tuskegee Airmen receiving a pre-flight briefing at Ramitelli Airfield, c. 1945
The 332nd Fighter Group flew 179 bomber escort missions from June 1944 through the end of the war. The Tuskegee Airmen proved especially valuable in this role. While on escort missions, Davis' airmen performed with great skill and courage, on one occasion shooting down 13 German fighters. But despite its success, the 332nd was often outnumbered. On one mission, Davis' 39 aircraft attacked more than 100 German fighters, shooting down five and for the loss of one and earning Davis the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery and leadership.
Tuskegee's airmen faced the best the Luftwaffe had, including the first jet fighters. On March 24, 1945, as the 332nd became one of the first Italy-based fighter units to escort a group of B-17s all the way to Berlin and back, while meeting 25 German Me 262 jets. In the ensuing combat, three jets fell and the 332nd lost only one P-51. Significantly, the 332nd had completed the full 1,600-mile mission, for which it earned the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Below: The Messerschmitt Me 262
The Tuskegee Airmen fought bravely and destroyed a total of 112 German aircraft in the air and 150 aricraft on the ground.