Tuskegee Airmen visits the wing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Martin Moleski
  • 445th Airlift Wing
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  Tuskegee Airmen were honored in a special ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for their heroic and courageous actions during World War II. Approximately 450 reservists and special guests welcomed ten Tuskegee Airmen from the Columbus and Cincinnati Chapters, who were among the first African-American pilots and technical crewmembers to serve in the United States military. 

“Sadly, there was a time in our not too distant past that African-Americans were denied military leadership roles and skilled training because many believed they lacked qualifications for combat duty,” said 445th Airlift Wing Vice Commander Col. Brian Dominguez during his speech. 

The brave men who would soon enlist to fight for freedom would certainly prove all of their critics wrong. 

Established in 1941 by the Army Air Corp, the objective was to train African-Americans as military pilots, gunners, flight engineers, and mechanics at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Upon completion of their training, over 450 airmen were sent overseas for combat. 

The mission designated to Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group is just as inspirational as it was unprecedented. 

Their mission was vital to securing the peace and protecting the U.S. bombers flying
over hostile territories while fighting off any enemy aircraft. More than 15,000 missions were completed by the airmen resulting in the destruction of 260 enemy aircraft. While 150 airmen gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the skies, not one United States bomber was lost due to enemy pilots. 

Herbert Heilbrun, a B-17 Bomber Pilot paid his respects to the airmen who he credits with saving his life. Having piloted many missions in Italy, Heilbrun said, “One bright spot in all those flights was the escort of the Tuskegee Airmen.” 

One of those airmen was fighter pilot John Leahr. In a very heartfelt speech, Leahr described the adversity he encountered while attempting to join the military as a pilot. Apart from being African-American, Leahr suffered a severe injury to his leg during childhood. After failed physical examinations, he convinced the selection committee to reclassify him as 1A and was accepted into the Army Air Corp. 

Mr. Leahr was assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group and flew 132 combat missions in Europe escorting bombers as a P-51 Red Tail Fighter Pilot. The fighter group earned the name of “Red Tail Angels” for decorating the P-51 Mustangs with bright red spinners and tails. 

When the war ended, Leahr returned home to Cincinnati and faced the racism and segregation that still divided the nation. 

Over 50 years later at a Tuskegee Airmen reunion in Cincinnati, Heilbrun decided to attend and started looking for any fighter pilots who might have escorted one of his flights during the war. As it turned out, Mr. Leahr was in attendance and the two men have since become great friends. 

As their friendship grew deeper, the two airmen realized they had more in common than serving their country in WWII. Both men had lived less than one mile apart during childhood, and when a 3rd grade class photograph surfaced, neither one could believe what they saw. In a class of 40 students there was one African-American male student, and it was John Leahr. Standing right next to him, shoulder to shoulder, was Herbert Heilbrun. 

In October 2003, both Leahr and Heilbrun were recipients of the Harvard Foundation Award for Intercultural and Race Relations for their endeavor to educate the public on the Tuskegee Airman and the injustice of racism. 

During the ceremony, many of the honorees were given a chance to address the audience and offer advice to the new generation of airmen. Each story addressed the hardship that these brave Americans went through, but each story had a very important message about the desegregation of military forces. “We have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go,” retired Lt. Col. Charles ‘C.I.’ Williams said. 

Lt. Col. Williams summarized best the impact of the Tuskegee Airman in not just a segregated military, but also a segregated nation. He said, “Before Martin Luther King, before Rosa Parks, we of the 332nd Tuskegee Airmen were catalysts for societal and attitudinal changes in the United States of America.” 

A Certificate of Proclamation was presented to the Tuskegee Airman by Col. Dominguez declaring Nov. 5, 2005, as Tuskegee Airman Day at the 445th Airlift Wing.