Gallery V

A group of Tuskegee Airmen aviation cadets pose outside their barracks at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, with several of their instructors. From the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, collection.

Rochester and Leon Rene entertain the aviation cadets and staff at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, during a USO performance in January 1942. From the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, collection.

The Southernaires singing group entertain the aviation cadets and staff at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, during a USO performance in January 1942. From the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, collection.

Rochester and Leon Rene sign autographs for patients at the base hospital during a visit following their USO perfomance for the aviation cadets and staff at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, in January 1942. From the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, collection.

1942. Eight men stand behind the 99th Pursuit Squadron sign at Chanute Field. Two officials of Tuskegee Institute visit armament, engineering, and communications trainees at Chanute Field, Illinois. Left to right: William R. Thompson, Nelson S. Brooks, Elmer D. Jones, James L. Johnson, George L. Washington (Director, Division of Aeronautics, Tuskegee Institute), Dudley W. Stevenson, Dr. Frederick L. Patterson (President, Tuskegee Institute), and William D. Townes. Picture donated to the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum Foundation by Lt. Col. William R. Thompson, (USAF, Ret.)

Tuskegee Airmen in one of the flight formations that will soon carry them over enemy territory. Here they are flying the shark-nosed P-40 fighter aircraft on a 1943 practice mission from Selfridge Field, Michigan. National Archives and Records Administration photograph.

Willa Beatrice Brown, a 31-year-old Black American, served her country by training pilots for the U.S. Army Air Forces at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. She was the first Black woman to receive a commission as a lieutenant in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol. National Archives and Records Administration photograph.

Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson was skeptical about proposals for training Blacks as pilots. Nevertheless, Stimson (with cane) subsequently visited Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, where he was greeted by Lieutenant General Barton K. Yount (center), commander Army Air Forces Training Command. Although the photograph includes Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Stimson did not meet Davis during this visit to Tuskegee. To satisfy a request from the Pentagon, TAAF officials made a photograph of Davis and superimposed the image on this photograph of Stimson's arrival, thus giving the impression that Davis had met the secretary while he was at Tuskegee. The incident is related in Davis's autobiography "American: An Autobiography", (Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1991). From the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, collection.

Aviation cadets and ground crew personnel stand by their AT-6 advanced training aircraft at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. In that nine-week phase of training, the cadets received 70 flying hours in either the AT-6 or the P-40 trainers. From the HQ AETC/HO, Randolph AFB, Texas, collection. A US Air Force photograph.

Artwork: "Col. Noel F. Parrish, commanding officer, Tuskegee Army Flying School, and the first Black pilots to receive wings in the Air Corps - 1942." Lt. Mac Ross, Lt. George S. Roberts, Capt. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Lt. Charles DeBow, and Lt. Lemuel L. Custus. Artist: Roy LaGrone. Color image. From the Defense Visual Information Center, collection.

Col. Noel F. Parrish, Air Corps, became commanding officer of the Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, on December 26, 1942. Colonel Parrish, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, was born on November 11, 1909. In 1928, he graduated from Rice Institute, Houston, Texas. On July 30, 1930, after one year of graduate study, he entered the Army as a private. A year later, he became a flying cadet in the first basic class to be trained at the newly constructed Randolph Field, Texas. He completed advanced training at Kelly Field in July 1932. In May 1941, he was sent to Tuskegee Institute to command the newly activated 66th Army Air Force Training Detachment. He and the first class of cadets to complete primary training were transferred to the Advanced Flying School at the new Tuskegee Army Air Field where he became director of training. From the Col. Roosevelt J. Lewis (USAF, Ret.) collection at Moton Field, Tuskegee, Alabama.

Keesler AFB, Mississippi, graduated its first class of Black airplane mechanics in August 1944. Upon completion of training, these young men rejoined their bombardment group at Tuskegee, Alabama. From the 81TRW/HO, Keesler AFB, Mississippi, collection.

Tuskegee Airmen aircraft maintenance students work with a hydraulics trainer at Keesler Field, Mississippi, in 1944. When these mechanics completed training they rejoined their unit at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. From the 81TRW/HO, Keesler AFB, Mississippi, collection.

"Ground flying" - an important phase of training. An instructor discusses with students the proper manner for the performance of certain flight maneuvers. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Aviation cadet candidates of the 2211th Air Base Unit (College Training, Aircrew), receive their major training in academic courses on the Tuskegee Institute campus. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Safety of flight depends upon the efficiency of the ground force on its checks and inspections. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Nothing tops mail call and a letter from home. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

First plane-of-a-kind and horsepower at Tuskegee. Two proud individuals and the first Institute flight instructor. July 29, 1940. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Construction of Moton Field gets going, June 1941. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944

The visit of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt to Airport "Number One", March 1941. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

August 25, 1941. Chief Pilot Charles Anderson and flight staff prepare to inaugurate Army pilot flight training at Tuskegee. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

The First Lady, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, visits Airport "Number One", March 1941. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Patterson and Washington inspect training of the 99th Pursuit Squadron ground crew at Chanute Field. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

July 19, 1941. Inaugural exercises marking the beginning of Negroes as military pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps, held at the Booker T. Washington Monument, Tuskegee Institute. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

The front cover of the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

The founder of Tuskegee Institute, Booker T. Washington, lifts the "Veil of Ignorance" from the eyes of a Negro. A monument to the founder of the campus of Tuskegee Institute. In background, an aerial view of a section of Tuskegee Institute. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, President of Tuskegee Institute, 1935-1953. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

G.L. Washington, General Manager, Division of Aeronautics, Tuskegee Institute. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

A bust of Dr. Robert Russa Moton, President of Tuskegee Institute, 1915-1935. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

The entrance to Moton Field. Built in 1941 for Army Primary Training, this field is owned by Tuskegee Institute and operated by its Division of Aeronautics. It was dedicated Moton Field in April 1943, in memory of Dr. Robert Russa Moton, second president of Tuskegee Institute. From the publication, "Pilot Training School, Tuskegee Institute", 1944.

Cadets and Instructors Outside the Barracks