WWII Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen overcame racial prejudice to become one of America's elite fighter units of World War II. Their legacy laid the foundation for African American equality in America.

Tuskegee Airmen Artwork, John Shaw, 1997, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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The Museum proudly displays the historic story of the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII through numerous pieces of artwork, artifacts, and objects.

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"Red Tail Angels" by John Shaw depicts a Tuskegee Airmen B-24 escort mission. This print is signed by numerous Tuskegee Airmen including Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

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Digital artist, Jerry Taliaferro, created these two outstanding pieces of artwork depicting the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII.

Red Tails P-51D "Mustang" Model (2013) by Frontiers of Flight MuseumFrontiers of Flight Museum

The Tuskegee Airmen became known as the "Red Tails" as they painted the nose and tail of their aircraft bright red. This model depicts Capt. Roscoe Brown's P-51.

Capt. Roscoe Brown, one of the first Tuskegee Airmen to down a German Me-262 fighter jet, named his P-51 Mustang "Bunnie" after his daughter.

Merlin”V-12 Aircraft Engine, Rolls-Royce, 1933/1951, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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The Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 aircraft engine powered the P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, de Havilland Mosquito, and the British Avro Lancaster throughout WWII.

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Notice the quality craftsmanship of the famous Rolls Royce Merlin V-12 engine, which powered the P-51 "Mustang" during WWII.

1942, From the collection of: LIFE Photo Collection
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Rare black-and-white WWII Tuskegee Airmen photograph of a mission briefing, courtesy of the LIFE Photo Collection.

WWII Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Calvin Spann, U.S. Army Air Corps, 1944, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Lt. Calvin Spann's WWII U.S. Army Air Corps dress uniform and combat medals earned as a Tuskegee Airmen P-51 "Mustang" pilot.

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Portrait of Lt. Calvin Spann, a decorated Tuskegee Airman who proudly served his country over the skies of Europe during WWII.

Tuskegee Airmen in Action, WWII, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Video depicting the famous 24 March 1945 B-17 bomber escort mission to Berlin, Germany. Lt. Calvin Spann flew on this historic mission, where the Tuskegee Airmen downed three German Me-262 jets.

Tuskegee Airmen Interactive Display, Frontiers of Flight Museum, 2013, From the collection of: Frontiers of Flight Museum
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Interactive map highlighting the locations of Tuskegee Airmen airfields in Europe and areas of combat operations during WWII.

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Tuskegee Airmen WWII European Theater Area of Operations Map

Credits: Story

Special thanks to all who contributed to this historically significant exhibit.

The Family of Lt. Calvin Spann
The History Channel
Bob Welch, Curator
Kent Harraid, Collections Database Manager

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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