Before the Tuskegee Airmen there were not any African Americans allowed to fly in the U.S. Air-Force. These brave men flew over 15,000 combat missions between 1943-1945!
The Tuskegee Airmen received the nickname "Red Tails", due to the distinct way their P-51 Mustangs tails were colored (bright red.) Throughout the course of the Second World War there were over 1.2 million people of color who served, and all this despite fighting for a free country who didn't recognize the same civil liberties at home to these brave men and women.
In all the Red Tails received 8 Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars, 8-unit citations and 96 Flying Crosses! The Tuskegee Airmen were nothing short of American Heros.
