Aircraft of the 332d Fighter Group; the "Redtails" of the Tuskegee
Airmen. The nearest aircraft depicted is that of Lt. Lee
Archer, the only ace among the Tuskegee Airmen.
By Neil Earle
This month Public TV station WQED in Pittsburgh did their own one-hour tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-black group of African-American pilots and mechanics who made up the 332nd Fighter Group of the US Army Air Corps. One of those so honored was William (Bill) Hicks an 87-year-young WCG Deacon from the Pittsburgh congregation. Bill has been a member of the WCG for 49 years.
The 332nd was formed by special order of Congress in 1941 over heavy objections. The Air Corps had been told by many that blacks could not fly planes, that their constituion was so different that they would faint at certain altitudes. Psychologists employed at Maxwell Air Filed in Alabama disproved the notion by employing some of the first standardized IQ, dexterity and leadership tests. Bill Hicks scored so high on mechanical aptitude that his application had an unusual footnote – "White Man."
Because of official and unofficial prejudice and segregation the 332nd was given their own special air arm including ground crews. Only when Major Noel Parrish staunchly petitioned the USAF were the Airmen sent overseas for combat duty. Entrenched racism ("the power to enforce prejudice") led to a special investigation by the United States Armed Services Committee to determine whether the Airmen should continue to fly. Over the objections of a "scientific" report by the University of Texas which purported to show blacks were of low intelligence and unable to handle complex skills so as to pose a danger to the USAF, the 332nd was finally assigned to the European Theater in 1942, moving into Tunisia after Operation Torch in November, 1842.
Once in combat the 332nd proved to be a blessing to the war effort. In spite of cruel hostility on the ground the 332nd instantly proved especially proficient in the air. Over the crucial battle of Anzio in 1944 the Airmen shot down 32 German aircraft and a legend was born. The Airmen shot down 3 of the 5 German new jet fighters, even though these jet fighters were 100 mph faster – amazing!
The airmen flew 15,000 sorties and were credited with 109 kills in addition to numerous raids on patrol boats, tanks and fuel depots. Their reputation was such that USAF bomber pilots specially asked to be escorted on their mission by the Redtails or as the Germans called them, Schwarze Vogelmenschen, Black Birdmen. In all 992 pilots were trained in Tuskegee and 150 lost their lives.
On return to the country they had helped defend they found many Americans scoffed at their claims to be pilots. The major airlines refused to hire black pilots until 1965. Bill Hicks is proud he can still wear his unform and the Pittsburgh church is proud that he is a member especially after his special citation at the Soldiers and Sailors Museum History hall on Feb. 1 and 2, 2008. His story has appeared in "Together" and "Reconcile."