Along with physician and benefactor Dr. Albert Forsythe, Anderson became the first Black pilot to crisscross the United States by air in 1933. Officer T67964 Augusta GA, Bolden, Edgar L. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0439271 Arlington VA, Bolden, George C. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 02075526 Pittsburgh PA, Bolling, George R. 42-F-SE 7/3/1942 2nd Lt. 0789961 Hampton VA, Bonam, Leonelle A. The flight brought much-needed attention to the Tuskegee Airmen. 44-I-SE 11/20/1944 Flt. Charles Anderson "did a great job of running things," Hardy, who is now 97 years old, told Fox News Digital. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843250 Independence KS, Wilson, Myron 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 Flt. 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811240 Indianapolis IN, Daniels, John 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 01106669 Chicago IL, Daniels, Robert H., Jr. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817582 Corona NY, Daniels, Thomas J., III 44-1-1-SE 10/16/1944 Flt. Postal Service in 2014. Officer T70226 Ahoskie NC, Smith, Robert C. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 Flt. Hardy later piloted giant B-29 bombers during the Korean War and C-119 gunships in Vietnam. 44-K-SE 2/1/1945 Flt. Anderson lived long enough to see the story of the men he introduced to flying immortalized in the 1995 movie "The Tuskegee Airmen," starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Lawrence Fishburne. Officer T70242 Austin TX, Toppins, Edward L. 42-H-SE 9/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0792425 San Francisco CA, Tresville, Robert B., Jr. 42-K-SE 12/13/1942 2nd Lt. 025761 Bay City TX, Trott, Robert G. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 2nd Lt. 0843008 Mt. The Tuskegee Airmen quickly proved that Black pilots were more than fit for combat. Raymond V. Haysbert. Officer T64634 Stoughton MA, Flake, Thomas M. 44-J-TE 12/28/1944 Flt. 44-I-SE 11/20/1944 2nd Lt. 01169183 Chicago IL, Johnson, Andrew Jr. 44-I-SE 11/20/1944 2nd Lt. 0839088 Greensboro NC, Johnson, Carl E. 43-I-SE 10/1/1943 2nd Lt. 0814194 Charlottesville VA, Johnson, Charles B. Officer T64642 Rutherford NJ, Spears, Leon W. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 Flt. 45-B-SE 4/15/1945 Flt. Officer T66141 Chicago IL, Garrett, Alfred E., Jr. 45-G-SE 10/16/1945 Flt. Webpilots in the Tuskegee Airmen story. Still, his unit of prop planes shot down three German jet fighters that day. Officer T70556 Garden City KS, Price, William S., III 44-C-SE 3/12/1944 2nd Lt. 0824840 Topeka KS, Prince, Joseph A. She's pictured here in a Piper J-3 Cub trainer with Charles Alfred "Chief" Anderson, a pioneer Black aviator and instructor at Tuskegee Institute. 44-A-TE 1/7/1944 2nd Lt. 0819447 Montclair NJ, Byrd, Willie L., Jr. 43-K-TE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817597 Fayetteville NC, Cabiness, Marshall S. 42-I-SE 10/9/1942 2nd Lt. 0792780 Gastonia NC, Cabule, Ernest M., Jr. 45-A-5E 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841256 Detroit MI, Caesar, Richard C. 42-H-SE 9/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0792418 Lake Village AR, Cain, William L. 44-I-1-TE 10/16/1944 Flt. Officer T70104 Dayton OH, Proctor, Norman E. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. Hubbard, Lyman L. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. Officer T67987 Brooklyn NY, Murdic, Robert J. Officer T70431 Brooklyn NY, Roach, John B. Officer T70422 Yukon PA, Morgan, Woodrow F. 43-I-SE 10/1/1943 2nd Lt. 0814199 Omaha NE, Morris, Harold M. 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 2nd Lt. 0828046 Seattle WA, Morrison, Thomas J., Jr. 45-A-SE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841265 Roxbury MA, Moseley, Sidney J. Officer T70543 Huston LA, Harvey, James H., Jr. 44-1-1-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838153 Mountain Top PA, Hathcock, Lloyd S. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817588 Dayton OH, Hawkins, Donald A. Americans know the 332nd and the Red Tails today as the most famous of the Tuskegee Airmen. Officer T149986 Detroit MI, Barland, Herbert C. 44-H-SE 9/8/1944 2nd Lt. 01168159 Chicago IL, Barnes, Gentry E. 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 2nd Lt. 0828045 Lawrenceville IL, Barnett, Herman A. He put the wind beneath the wings of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, only after fighting for the right to fly on his own a decade earlier. Tuskegee University Tuskegee Airman George Hardy. Officer T70549 Norfolk VA, Jackson, Leonard M. 43-D-SE 4/29/1943 2nd Lt. 0801172 Fort Worth TX, Jackson, Melvin T. 42j-SE 11/10/1942 2nd Lt. 0793708 Warren ton VA, Jackson, William T. 44-F-TE 6/27/1944 Flt. Officer T70112 Martinville LA, Rayner, Ahmed A., Jr. 44-C-TE 3/12/1944 2nd Lt. 01043199 Chicago IL, Rector, John A. Officer T67147 New Orleans LA, Morgan, Dempsey W. 43-E-SE 5/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0804558 Detroit MI, Morgan, John H. 42-H-SE 9/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0792423 Cartersville GA, Morgan, William B. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 0830790 Quincy IL, Irving, Wellington 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817589 Belzoni MS, Jackson, Charles L. 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 Flt. Their main mission was to escort Allied bombers in raids over German targets across Europe dangerous missions flown in the face of anti-aircraft fire from the ground and attacks from enemy fighter planes in the air. Officer T62308 Belleville NJ, Williams, Andrew B., Jr. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. Thats what we admired about him. In 2000, 55 Chicago-area Officer T64636 Cincinnati OH, Goldsby, Charles S. 45-A-TE 3/11/1945 Flt. Officer T70423 Philadelphia PA, Williams, James R. 45-G-TE 10/16/1945 2nd Lt. 02068906 Bryn Mawr PA, Williams, Joseph H. 44-I-TE 11/20/1944 2nd Lt. 0839097 Chicago IL, Williams, Kenneth I. Officer T64643 Chattanooga TN, White, Marvin C. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 Flt. Officer T149962 Asbury Park NJ, Griffin, Jerrold D. 45-E-TE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 0843112 Philadelphia PA, Griffin, William E. 43-B-SE 2/16/1943 2nd Lt. 0797220 Birmingham AL, Groves, Weldon K 43-F-SE 6/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0805985 Edwardsville KS, Guilbaud, Eberle J. Woodhouse (LAW55) is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, Americas first all-Black combat flying unit, which flew during World War II. Unit members werent even allowed to be trained alongside white soldiers. 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811282 Grand Rapids MI, Jefferson, Samuel 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811283 Galveston TX, Jefferson, Thomas W. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 Flt. The Tuskegee airmen received praise for their excellent combat re 44-J-SE 12/28/1944 Flt. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER, "We worked together and we depended on each other," said Hardy. Officer T69754 Chicago IL, Friend, Robert 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817584 New York NY, Fulbright, Stewart B., Jr. 43-K-TE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817599 Springfield MO, Fuller, William A., Jr. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 Flt. 46-A-TE 3/23/1946 Flt. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 2nd Lt. 0843357 Birmingham AL, Robinson, Robert C., Jr. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 2nd Lt. 0835414 Asheville NC, Robinson, Robert L.,Jr. Officer T70103 Atlanta GA, Prewitt, Mexion O. Officer T64271 Helena AR, Exum, Herven P. 44-I-1-TE 10/16/1944 Flt. 42-H-SE 9/6/1942 2nd Lt. 0792424 Thomasville GA, Pillow, Robert A., Jr. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 Flt. Officer T67979 Wenatchee WA, Edwards, Jerome T. 42:J-SE 11/10/1942 2nd Lt. 0793707 Steubenville OH, Edwards, John E. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 2nd Lt. 0835407 Steubenville OH, Edwards, William H. 44-G-SE 8/4/1944 Flt. Officer T69755 St. Louis MO, Oliphant, Clarence A. 44-J-TE 12/28/1944 Flt. 43-D-SE 4/29/1943 2nd Lt. 0801173 Norfolk VA, Mosley, Clifford E. 45-E-TE 8/4/1945 Flt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. U.S. News and World Report's Minnesota, South St Paul. Officer T67141 Jersey City NJ, Bell, Lloyd W. 44-K-SE 2/1/1945 2nd Lt. 0840735 Pulaski IL, Bell, Richard H. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 0830780 Chicago IL, Bell, Rual W. 44-D-SE 4/15/1944 Flt. Despite the carnage inflicted on enemy forces, just 66 Tuskegee Airmen were lost in combat in World War II. 43-K-TE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817602 New York NY, Hockaday, Wendell W. 44-E-SE 5/23/1944 2nd Lt. 0830781 Norfolk VA, Hodges, Jerry T., Jr. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 2nd Lt. 0843246 Heth AR, Holbert, Bertrand J. Tuskegee Airmen instructor Charles Alfred "Chief" Anderson was honored with a stamp by the U.S. 44-I-1-TE 10/16/1944 1st Lt. 0420985 Memphis TN, Smith, Lewis C. 43-D-SE 4/29/1943 2nd Lt. 0801176 Los Angeles CA, Smith, Luther H. 43-E-SE 5/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0804560 Des Moines IA, Smith, Quentin P. 45-A-TE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841274 East Chicago IL, Smith, Reginald V. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 Flt. Officer T70429 Chicago IL, Mulzac, John I. You will find many Student and Among the pilots in the the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces, there were a total of 932 pilots who graduated from the program. Percy Heath. 44-I-SE 11/20/1944 Flt. Officer T63116 Augusta GA, Ramsey, Pierce T. 45-F-TE 9/8/1945 Flt. Tuskegee, AL 36088 46-A-SE 3/23/1946 Flt. Officer T68761 Nashville TN, Fletcher, Henry F. 43:J-SE 11/3/1943 2nd Lt. 0814140 San Antonio TX, Ford, Harry E., Jr. 45-E-TE 8/4/1945 Flt. Officer T67975 Washington DC, Stevens, Fuchard G. 44-I-l-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838160 Washington DC, Steward, Lowell C. 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0809254 Los Angeles CA, Stewart, Harry T., Jr. 44-F-SE 6/27/1944 2nd Lt. 0835330 Corona NY, Stewart, Nathaniel C. 43-J-SE 11/3/1943 2nd Lt. 0814840 Philadelphia PA, Stiger, Roosevelt 44-C-SE 3/12/1944 2nd Lt. 0824842 Jackson MI, Stoudmire, Norvel 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811289 St. Louis MO, Stovall, Charles L. 44-I-l-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838161 Wichita KS, Streat, William A., Jr. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 Flt. Officer T68759 Independence KS, Pruitt, Wendell O. Officer T70108 Redlands CA, Thomas, William H. 43-J-SE 11/3/1943 2nd Lt. 0814842 Los Angeles CA, Thompson, Donald N., Jr. 44-I-1-SE 10/16/1944 2nd Lt. 0838162 Philadelphia PA, Thompson, Floyd A. NJ, Gallwey, James H. 46-A-SE 3/23/1946 2nd Lt. 02078775 Oswego NY, Gamble, Howard C. 43-K-SE 12/5/1943 2nd Lt. 0817586 Charleston WV, Gant, Morris E. 44-H-SE 9/8/1944 Flt. (Air Force Historical Research Agency), "He learned to fly through personal determination. AndersonsTuskegee Airmen arrived in Europe in the spring of 1943. Officer T69745 Little Silver NJ, Peoples, Francis B. First lady Eleanor Roosevelt supported the Civilian Pilot Training Program and the War Training Service. The Tuskegee Institute hired Anderson to head its Civilian Pilot Training program in 1940. 44-B-SE 2/8/1944 2nd Lt. 0821923 Los Angeles CA, Williams, LeRoi S. 43-G-SE 7/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0809260 Roanoke VA, Williams, Leslie A. Officer T61 749 Fairfield AL, Williams, Craig H. 43-E-SE 5/28/1943 2nd Lt. 0804565 Chicago IL, Williams, Edward J. 42-F-SE 7/3/1942 2nd Lt. 0790462 Muskogee OK, McIntyre, Clinton E. 45-E-SE 8/4/1945 2nd Lt. 02075549 Bronx NY, McIntyre, Herbert A. 46-A-TE 3/23/1946 Flt. All About Us Find Your Interest Search our Degree Programs Need Advising? The Tuskegee Airmen: 5 Fascinating FactsThe Tuskegee Airmen once shot down three German jets in a single day. On March 24, 1944, a fleet of P-51 Mustangs led by Colonel Benjamin O. Thurgood Marshall, the future Supreme Court justice, got his start defending Tuskegee bomber trainees. The Airmen might have never gotten off the ground without Eleanor Roosevelts help. More items On The Home Front Noel F. Parrish At segregated Tuskegee, Parrish offered inspired leadership for the training of black pilots and airmen. Charles Alfred "Chief" Anderson died on April 13, 1996, in Tuskegee. Officer T63113 Glen Rock NJ, Hayes, Lee A. He retired in 1972 after a 30-year military career. 45-H-TE 11/20/1945 2nd Lt. 0843356 East Chicago IL, McKenzie, Alfred U. Legal Statement. In 1929, Anderson had earned his pilots license, and went on to become the first African American to earn a commercial pilots certification in (Universal Images Group via Getty Images), Charles 'Chief' Anderson taught the Tuskegee Airmen how to fly here's his amazing story. Minnesota, South St Paul. 45-D-SE 6/27/1945 Flt. 43-H-SE 8/30/1943 2nd Lt. 0811292 London WV, Thompson, Francis R. 45-A-TE 3/11/1945 2nd Lt. 0841275 Brooklyn NY, Thompson, James A. will fityour personality. The Red Tails destroyed or damaged 409 German aircraft in the air (136) or on the ground (273); 739 locomotives and other train cars damaged or destroyed; 40 barges and boats; even one enemy warship, a destroyer.