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Welcome to Middle School Monday! On Saturday, we were finally able to do something that I figured would be considered a field trip. The Red Tail Squadron traveling exhibit honoring the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII was in our area, and both my students were invited to be a part of the Saturday event through the groups they are involved in.
My original plan for the day had been to go to the European Union Open House in Washington DC - I couldn't imagine a more fitting field trip to celebrate the (almost) end of a school year in which Kennady studied Europe! But... that would have required an entire day spent in the capitol, and I desperately wanted the hubster to spend the day with us. (So he could do the driving! Ha!) Hubster had to work; Landon had already committed to spending the day at this Red Tail event; and then the Children's Chorus was invited to sing at the event; so we decided to save the Embassy Open House for next year since it's an annual event. And meeting the Tuskegee Airmen is pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
My original plan for the day had been to go to the European Union Open House in Washington DC - I couldn't imagine a more fitting field trip to celebrate the (almost) end of a school year in which Kennady studied Europe! But... that would have required an entire day spent in the capitol, and I desperately wanted the hubster to spend the day with us. (So he could do the driving! Ha!) Hubster had to work; Landon had already committed to spending the day at this Red Tail event; and then the Children's Chorus was invited to sing at the event; so we decided to save the Embassy Open House for next year since it's an annual event. And meeting the Tuskegee Airmen is pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Civil Air Patrol was providing flight line assistance, security, and parking lot assistance all day at the event, so Landon had already been there for several hours when Kennady and I arrived. When we got there, he and two other CAP members were moving one of the CAP planes.
A small group of the Children's Chorus members, including Kennady, were there to sing the national anthem in a short ceremony honoring the two Tuskegee Airmen who were in attendance.
What an honor for these kids to meet these fine gentlemen!
I had to do a bit of a zoom-in. Seated are Dr. Cyril O. Byron Sr. of the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group; and Mr. L. Arthur Lewie Jr. of the U.S. Army Air Force 477th B Group. The children were able to shake their hands and thank them for their service.
I sort of wish we'd arrived early enough to see the movie RISE ABOVE before the ceremony, as I think it would have given Kennady a better appreciation of the accomplishments and service of these men and their contemporaries. This movie explains how race discrimination prevented African-Americans from training as pilots. In 1941 the Army Air Corps set up a segregated flight training base in Tuskegee, Alabama, but most people didn't expect it to succeed. Many of the men who trained there had attended college and earned degrees, but the pilot training was rigorous. From 1941 to 1946 a total of 996 pilots earned their wings through the Tuskegee program. These pilots were supported lby more than 14,000 ground personnel, trained to be mechanics, armement and communication specialists, and administrators - all of whom were also black. And because segregation was still commonplace at that time, they completed their training to serve their country while enduring insults and ignorance in the form of things like separate drinking fountains or building entrances for "White" and "Colored" people. They had to be able to ignore these prejudices and focus on their mission.
The Tuskegee Airmen were sent to North Africa, and then to Italy to support the Allies as they pushed into Nazi Germany. From June 1943 until April 1945, 450 Tuskegee pilots flew more than 1500 combat sorties, mostly serving as bomber escorts. The 332nd Fighter Group had the tails of their planes painted bright red, and soon white bomber pilots were requesting the "red tail angels" because the Tuskegee Airmen had earned a reputation for being skilled pilots and fierce fighters. Although the Airmen flew many different types of planes and missions, it is the P-51C Mustang and as bomber escorts that they are most known for.
Part of this traveling exhibit is a restored P-51C Mustang. It is painted to represent a variety of the Airmen's squadrons, and with the signature red tail. We were able to see this plane in action, and although you can't see him in these pictures, Landon was one of the CAP cadets privileged to move this plane to the flight line, and he considered it an honor to be able to do that.
I grabbed this shot to show the "By ReQuest" painted on the plane. We learned in the RISE ABOVE movie that this was painted on some of the original Tuskegee planes, because the Airmen were specifically requested as escorts for bomber missions.
Although the Tuskegee Airmen are rightly honored for their brave and exemplary service to their country, they are also remembered for overcoming the belief that men could be judged based on the color of their skin. Their patriotism and determination to fight for their country is remarkable when we consider that racial prejudice excluded them and cruelly discriminated against them in so many ways. It's a shame that their story hasn't been told more clearly in our history books, because it exemplifies honor and courage, and the determination to overcome obstacles. The Tuskegee Airmen served so bravely during WWII that the desegregation of the US military followed in 1948 - as a direct result of their service records.
The Tuskegee Airmen served a nation not willing to serve them. Their legacy made my rise in the military possible. I stood on their shoulders. They made America better for all of us. ~General Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The privileges of being an American belong to those brave enough to fight for them. ~Tuskegee Airman Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., first black U.S.A.F. GeneralFor more information about the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Red Tail Squadron and their tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, visit the CAF Red Tail Squadron website. Check out the schedule for the RISE ABOVE traveling exhibit, and visit if it will be in your area. It's not only fascinating for its historical value and the excitement of seeing and hearing the Mustang in flight; but it's also an inspiration and encouragement to see how the Tuskegee Airmen demonstrated strength of character and integrity in meeting adversity and overcoming the challenges they faced.
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In addition to the Tuskegee Airmen tribute, there were several displays of artifacts gathered by servicemen during WWII.
Kennady recorded some observations in the Exploring Creation Field Trip Journal from Apologia that we will be reviewing for the Schoolhouse Review Crew. Watch for the reviews coming in about a month!
Have you had any great field trip adventures lately? Leave a comment and let me know!
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2 comments:
What a great field trip (and so nice for recording in the Apologia field trip guide). :-)
That was interesting to read. It's a great field trip.!
Annette @ A net in time
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