The Tuskeegee airmen have been a popular subject for several years since the movie of the same name was released back in the mid 1990s. There has been a lot of supposition and myth surrounding these men and this book provides an insight into not only their combat record (which was as good as there was by any other group in WWII), but also the obstacles they had to overcome to get there.

The author takes us through their initial training and development to the first unit to enter combat, the 99th FS and one that was not with the 332nd FG for most of its operational career. It then covers the different aircraft types the unit flew, most of them second line planes that were handed down from other units. This includes P-40s, P-39s and P-47s until late 1944 when they finally got P-51Bs and then P-51D Mustangs. All of their more important missions and aerial battles are covered with the usual 'there I was' stories from the men involved.

Throughout the book the reader is reminded that these men were truly pathfinders and were always reminded by most in the US Army that they were not considered to be up to the task at hand. Overt racism was always a problem and many all-black units were so constantly harassed and degraded by their (white) commanding officers that they never were considered ready for combat.

Fortunately, the men of the 332nd were a great deal more fortunate and while some commanders tried their best to show these men were not up to the task, for the most part, they had enlightened commanders who realized that the nation could not afford to not use these men in combat. Even post war, the unit continued to excel up until the day that these units were disbanded and their men integrated into regular USAAF/USAF units.

While the 332nd is gone, one of the four squadrons (the 302nd), still exists and is flying F-16Cs with the USAF reserves out of Luke AFB, Arizona. I've also been informed that the 99th is still around being the 99th FTS  flying T-1As with the 12 FTW out of Randolph Field Texas.

Overall, an excellent read and a book that you can buy with confidence.

January 2007

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