Tuskegee Airmen Facts and Figures
Tuskegee Airmen Facts and Figures The first class of 13 cadets began training at Tuskegee, Alabama on July 19,1941. From that class, 5 cadets (to include then-Captain Benjamin O. Davis) completed training and were awarded their wings on March 7, 1942. 992 Black pilots graduated from Tuskegee, with the last class finishing on June 29,1946. The Tuskegee Airmen were grouped into 4 flying squadrons; the 99th, 100th, 301st & 302nd. These four squadrons were combined to form the 332nd Fighter Group. Additionally, some Tuskegee Airmen were trained in B-25 bombers and formed the 447th Bomber Group, however WWII ended before these pilots could be deployed. Combat Statistics Included: 409 German aircraft shot down or damaged on the ground 950 ground transportation units (trucks, railroad cars, etc) destroyed 1 German Navy destroyer sunk by aircraft machine gun fire alone Aircraft flown: P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51 15,553 combat sorties flown 1,578 total missions flown 200 bomber escort missions flown, with an unmatched record of never having lost a bomber under their protection to enemy aircraft attacks 66 Tuskegee pilots killed in combat 32 Tuskegee pilots shot down who became prisoners of war Combat awards included over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses and Legions of Merit, along with The Red Star of Yugoslavia Primarily due to the outstanding wartime accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, in July 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 which officially integrated the U.S. Air Force. The U.S. Army became integrated in 1951, with other services soon following.
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