16 Centennial Journal December 2003 Numbers Dwindling, but Tuskegee Airmen Aren’t Forgotten By Lance Gurwell thing about the Tuskegee Airmen, About the only thing that could keep whose service near a Tuskegee Airman grounded during the end of WWII World War II was bad weather, and in was invaluable in war, sometimes even the weather helping win the couldn’t ground the daring aviators. war. A shortage of Now, more than 50 years since their fliers during WWII last duty junkets, the airmen are col- led America to lecting some of their due. All were investigate ways to honored, and a handful was present, strengthen its for ceremonies at a recent football Army Air Corps. game between the Air Force Academy In 1941, the first and Utah. cadet class of While weather grounded the black aviator hope- Tuskegee Airmen’s trademark “Red fuls convened for Tail” P-51 Mustang, which remained flight school in nearby on game day, a pair of climate- Tuskegee, Ala. Of hardy F-16 jets streaked overhead, the first class, five saluting the 10 former Tuskegee of the original 13 Airmen at the academy for the event. cadets graduated The airmen were also honored at an nine months later,

affair at the Colorado Springs Jet in 1942. Willie Daniel II Courtesy Center the day before, where they Benjamin O. L to R:Tuskegee Airmen Julius D. Mason, John W. Mosley, James E. Harrison, Fitzroy “Buck” Newsum, Hebert E. posed for photographs with a restored Davis Jr. was part Mustang, signed autographs, and of that first class, Carter, Franklin J. Macon, Samuel C. Hunter and Randolph F. Edwards, in front of a “Red Tail” P-51 inspected an F-16 brought in for the and would be the at the Colorado Springs Jet Center. occasion. first black officer to branch. who now lives in Tuskegee, not far One former member, Lt. Col. solo in an Army Air Corp aircraft. From 1942 through 1946, 992 pilots from the field where he learned to fly. Herbert E. Carter (USAF, ret.), During WWII, his 332nd Fighter graduated at Tuskegee Army Air The surviving Tuskegee Airmen are climbed into the P-51, and flashed a Group was the first Italy-based group Field, receiving commissions and pilot a proud lot, and to them, the missions thumbs-up from the cockpit. If it had- to escort bombers to Berlin; it flew wings. Black navigators, bombardiers they flew during the war are just as n’t been for the weather, he might’ve 200 escort missions without losing any and gunnery crews were trained at real today as they were then. They taxied out onto the runway and flown alliance bombers. By 1954, Davis military bases elsewhere in the United happily line up to be photographed in the planned tribute flight by himself. became the first black general in the States. Mechanics were trained at front of the restored P-51, but odds are Practically everyone knows some- newly created Air Force service Chanute Air Base in Rantoul, Ill., until in their minds eye they’re escorting facilities were in place in 1942 at bombers over Italy, or chasing German At Last, The Truth About Headaches Revealed... Tuskegee Army Air Field; 450 of the fighters in dogfights. pilots trained there served overseas in Carter remembers his Tuskegee the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the Airmen career with clarity, but no “The Real Cause Behind 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd braggadocio. He was already a pilot Fighter Group. The 99th Fighter when the war started, but enlisted in Squadron trained in and flew P-40 the Army Air Corp for additional Most Headaches And How Warhawk aircraft in combat in North flight training, “and to avoid being Africa, Sicily and Italy from April drafted as a private.” His first military You Can Get Rid Of Your 1943 until July 1944, when they were training was in a BT-13, then the AT- transferred to the 332nd Fighter Group 6, and he did his tactical training in a in the 15th Air Force. P-40 Flying Tiger. Headaches Forever!” Depending on the source, about 200 By April 1943, he was flying mis- of the famous airmen are believed still sions over North Africa in the P-40. Centennial, CO - If you or someone you know suffers from living. Aurora-based United Airlines Within six months, his plane was pilot Willie Daniels II spearheaded upgraded to the P-47 Thunderbolt. headaches then there is still hope for you without relying on the tradi- efforts to honor the Tuskegee Airmen Later in the war, Carter piloted the tional treatment by most doctors that just don’t work! If you’re sick in Colorado Springs, but credits Dr. famous Red Tail that was devastating- and tired of trying to live with constantly recurring headaches that Gary R. Coulter, president and CEO of ly effective against the enemy in limit you from living the life you want, then this news is for you! the Colorado Consortium for Earth & WWII. Space Science Education and “One of the Tuskegee Airmen’s State Of The Art, Natural Method Gets Rid Of Headaches Colorado State University professor of greatest accomplishments is being the With Amazing Results! microbiology, as instrumental in only unit in the Mediterranean to fly At long last a treatment for headaches has been discovered that pulling the right strings to bring the 200 bomber escort missions and never event off. Daniels is also president and lose a bomber,” Carter said of the treats the REAL cause of your headaches unlike many medications, CEO of Shades of Blue, a nonprofit 332nd Fighter Group, of which he was which only cover up the pain for a short time! Unlike many medica- foundation he formed to encourage a part. Carter flew 77 combat missions tions this non-drug treatment has no serious side effects other than children to study aviation and space in and logged 125 combat flight hours; college. he retired in 1969, after 25 years of feeling great and a life without constant headaches. “For too many years these men have service. Free Report Reveals How To Find Out If This Treatment Will been forgotten,” Daniels said. “We’re Colorado State Representative Bill Work For YOU! not going to have them around for too Sinclair is a former B-24 pilot who much longer; these guys are now in experienced the bravery and skill of A free report has recently been released which reveals what lead- their eighties.” the Tuskegee Airmen’s 332nd Fighter ing researchers at major universities have declared is the best, Daniels spent eight years as a flight Group first hand over Europe. Sinclair number one, most effective headache treatment to date. Best of all, attendant before becoming a pilot, but attended the Colorado Springs cere- he said he hasn’t had to face the rejec- monies honoring the former fighter there are no drugs or painful treatments involved. This safe and tion the Tuskegee Airmen experi- pilots, and his comments brought tears natural treatment is being used by thousands of headache sufferers enced, and he wants to make sure the to the eyes of several of the airmen. around the country with amazing results! To receive your free report surviving airmen know how much “I was a 20-year-old member of the their efforts are appreciated. 721st Bomber Squadron; at the end of call the headache hotline toll-free at 1-888-831-6584 24 hr. recorded “It means a great deal to me that the the war the Germans had just devel- message. You Don’t Have To Live With Headaches Anymore! word is being kept alive,” said former oped the Me-262 (jet fighter) and it Tuskegee Airmen Herbert E. Carter, was very efficient at flying through a December 2003 Centennial Journal 17

bomber squadron and shooting down the bombers,” Sinclair recalled. “As bomber pilots, we felt protected when the Red Tails escorted us (part of the Holiday Activities fighter squadron of the 332nd Air Group). We saw them go after these jet Platte River Holiday Sing-a-Along! Holiday Concert Series airplanes and shoot them out of the at Hudson Gardens sky.” Come celebrate the holidays with the South Suburban Park At one point in the war, commanders Foundation on Saturday, December 6, between 10 a.m. and noticed that the number of Tuskegee Hudson Gardens & Event Center’s 2003 Holiday Concert noon along the Mary Carter Greenway/Platte River Trail Series, the first ever holiday series, will begin Wednesday, Airmen kills or engagements was near Prince Street and Riverwalk Circle. The festivities falling. It was soon discovered that December 3, with Aries Brass Quintet, a brass chamber include sing-a-along caroling to music provided by the ensemble performing sounds of the season. Gates open at 6 enemy pilots feared the red tails so Littleton Community Band from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and much they would avoid contact as p.m., and the concert is at 7 p.m. complimentary refreshments. Performances by the On Sunday, December 7, Colcannon will perform Celtic often as possible. Englewood High School and Littleton High School choirs Colorado Springs resident Frank sounds. Gate 6:00 p.m., concert, 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, will follow. Children of all ages can enjoy participating in December 14, Bonnie Phipps & The Elastic Band will pres- Macon, still an active pilot and aircraft holiday arts and crafts projects and visiting Santa and his owner, made the trip to the Tuskegee ent a special children’s Christmas concert, complete with a elves. South Suburban is also hosting a “Holiday visit from Santa. Gate 4:30 p.m., concert 5:30 p.m. On Army Air Corps field twice. He was Decorations Drive” for local communities, so bring any sent home the first time because he Sunday, December 21, Ms. Behavin’ Barbershop Quartet slightly used and/or new ornaments, lights, tinsel and fig- will perform. Gate 6:00 p.m., concert 7:00 p.m. was too young, but the second trip urines that you would like to donate. looked promising, and he was cruising Concerts are held in the festively-decorated heated Garden To get to the event, from Santa Fe follow Prince Street Canopy. General admission seating is available. Tickets are towards graduation. Arriving in 1943, west to Riverwalk Circle and turn right (north) into the Macon spent about three months study- $6.00 for adults, $4.00 for garden members, and $4.00 for meadow and walk to the trail. Or better yet, bike, walk, run children ages 3 to 12. Tickets may be purchased in advance ing academics. Then he started pilot or skate the trail towards Prince Street and Belleview training on a Stearman PT-17, moved by calling (303) 797-8565, ext. 321 or online at www.hud- Avenue. Free parking is available. For additional informa- songardens.org. Hudson Gardens is located at 6115 South through BT-13 training, and on to the tion, call (303) 798-5131. T-6, the last step to flying the fighter, Santa Fe Drive, just south of Bowles Avenue. which by that time was the P-51. “I shouldn’t have been flying that day,” Macon recalls of an aerobatic training flight in 1943. “I’d had a bad cold for several days, but I had a chance to fly and I did.” Sadly, his aerobatic exercises resulted in ruptured eardrums. After several weeks in the hospital, Macon was offered a chance to graduate with his class, but the war had ended. “I’m sad about not graduating with my class, but I’m still a Tuskegee Airman, and I’m proud to be associat- ed with a group of guys like that,” Macon said. Attention Kmart Shoppers

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