Black soldiers were relegated to support roles.

Flying fighter planes was out of the question.

It was thought over the objections of Happened was in charge of the airport that time that blacks didn't have the ability to do complicated things, a leadership, etcetera.

We knew that was wrong.

Under pressure from the black press n Double A, C, P, and even his own wife, President Roosevelt relented in 1939 and ordered the civilian pilot training program to be open to black students who wish to become civilian pilots.

In December of 1940 the War Department followed suit and appropriated $1 million to build a suitable base to train black airmen at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

They called the effort to train these men on experiment men bonded immediately, imbued with a sense of common purpose and racial pride.

Although the army didn't believe in her capability, they didn't.

James.

The training standards and that was a plus for us were ableto meet the standards and perform successfully at World War Two gave us a chance to go into combat units and do a first class job.

So with Roger Population, we realized how silly and stupid segregation what.

In April of 1943 the first full squadron of African American fighter pilots, the 99th Fighter Squadron received orders for deployment to the Mediterranean theater of operations.

By June of 1944 99 had joined three other all black fighter squadrons.

Together, they comprise the 3 32nd Fighter Group, known to history as the Tuskegee Airman.

3 32nd continued flying escort for bombers through the rest of the summer of 1944.

Their reputation for disciplined and effective fighter escort Group 1000 Strikes, which is a military newspaper, came out every day would talk about admissions, and they would talk about the All Negro 3 32nd Fighter Group, how they had protected the bombers and how we were doing such a great job protecting the vomit.

The 3 32nd flew mission after mission protecting bombers of the 15th Air Force as they struck railroad bridges in northern Italy and oil refineries in Romania.

They were sent all over Eastern Europe to straight airfields and marshaling yards by wars and 3 32nd down, 108 enemy aircraft received 744 air medals, 150 distinguished flying crosses, 14 Bronze Stars and one Silver Star.

But despite the accolades for their efforts overseas, the Tuskegee Airman returned to a segregated America indifferent to their achievements.

I'm coming down the gang plane.

I'm a boat that brought me back to the States.

And at the bottom of the steps of the gangplank is a sign that colored troops to the right, uh, troops to lift.

Separated again.

Uh, at that time I said, Well, you know, this is a pity, but the war efforts of the Tuskegee Airman would not be forgotten.

Our experience dispelled myths and biases that had been part of Army policy on our capability and how we would be used.

So it brought about a change in 1948.

By order of President Harry Truman, the armed forces of the United States were integrated war record of the Tuskegee Airman in the skies of Europe had shaken the foundations of entrenched American racism.

This small but resolute group of African American men, refined by hardship, danger and adversity, had proven the fundamental injustice of a segregated military.

You've got to know inside races was wrong.

I got no inside that you have the capacity anybody else.

And when given the opportunity, you will overcome way accomplished something important once, given the opportunity, the importance that this shows that it's not happenstance of birth, color skin, it's important to it's really what Martin Luther King really gave her country content of character.