1944 – The Tuskegee Airmen of 322 Ftr Gp were known as the ‘Red-Tailed Black Angels’ with their black fuselage and red painted tails of their P-51Bs. Here Capt. Ed Toppins destroys a Luftwaffe Bf-109 over the skies of Italy.
Nobody Asked Me…
Veritas nos liberabit
I count nine aircraft. The idea of that many speeding aircraft mixing it up in close proximity is unnerving. Spitting lead makes it even more so. What we’re seeing is raw courage.
I imagine so heightened was the focus on the enemy it is understandable if a pilot forgot to drop his wing tanks.
I surely enjoy these moments of man and machine in aviation history.
It’s impressive that they fought so hard to get into a battle that they fought so hard in.
r- Yes, it is amazing… I’m glad you’re enjoying the series.
Ed- No question. And they never gave up!
They were the epitome of determination, and an inspiration.
Keep the avation art coming.
I have always loved the P-51’s and as said earlier, I could not have imagined that many aircraft in such a tight airspace battling it out. Nothing like today with long range sophisticated weapons.
Rev- That they were, and still are!
Rick- Got a few more left.
Senior- All true, but today’s ROE still limits them to visual confirmation first… sigh
…I think it was they never lost a bomber under their escort to enemy fighters…and would stay right with them through the the flak on the bomb run…
The leading liberal of her day, Eleanor Roosevelt, forced the creation of the Tuskegee airmen. Given the chance, they showed what they could do.
I’ve read in a few places their success inspired Truman to integrate the Armed Forces.
Benjamin O. Davis Jr.
“During the four years of his Academy term, Davis was racially isolated by his White classmates, few of whom spoke to him outside the line of duty. He never had a roommate. He ate by himself. His classmates hoped that this would drive him out of the Academy.”
From here—
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_O._Davis_Jr.
WSF- That she did and went flying with them!
RHT- But they didn’t… Thankfully…
I got a request to help fund them last year. Bought the ball cap because I served in two units that had been B-17 outfits in England, both of which they most likely escorted.
I have a dozen or so photos of the CAF “B” model.
contrary to popular belief, there were bombers lost
under their escort.
I know most prefer the later models of the Mustang…but I’ve always loved this one the most.
ron, they may have been under orders to NOT drop their fuel tanks. Such silliness took place in Europe with the P-47 squadrons for a brief while. May have filtered down to the Med.