[hworth18]

Originally Posted by mikeb1958

I don't think that anyone is trying to take away from their accomplishments, but in the past all we heard about the Tuskegee Airmen was dispite having to overcome racism and hardships was "Not one bomber was lost due to enemy aircraft while the Tuskegee Airmen were flying escort missions". Well, I always found that kind of hard to believe that any Fighter Group (white, black, green, whatever..) during WWII could make that claim anyways. With all the sorties that were flown that at least one German, Japanese, Italian, etc aircraft would of got through the fighter protection to get to the bombers. So, I say "Let the facts speak for themselves" and 'Semper Fi'. Or as ole Gunny would say from 'Mail Call"....Hoooo Rawwww".

Agreed..I would say that it was Outstanding if they ONLY lost 25 planes over the span of 311 missions.. Plus the fact that the Luftwaffe had the tactical advantage and could shoot down the bombers from head-on before the escorts could intervene.. Many planes could have also been lost to flak and malfunctions and mis-attributed to fighter loses...
Whatever the story is, they certainly deserved the long-overdue appreciation..

[mustangdriver]

I think I might be mis understood here. What I mean to say is that if it is true, than it is true and so be it. I don't think that the media is portraying it in that light though. 800 got in here by me using a comparison. It really has nothing to do with anything here, just a comment I was making. The media has jumped on this, and they don't have anyone's best interest in mind.

[jim]

Originally Posted by hworth18

Agreed..I would say that it was Outstanding if they ONLY lost 25 planes over the span of 311 missions.. Plus the fact that the Luftwaffe had the tactical advantage and could shoot down the bombers from head-on before the escorts could intervene.. Many planes could have also been lost to flak and malfunctions and mis-attributed to fighter loses...
Whatever the story is, they certainly deserved the long-overdue appreciation..

In my experience history is constantly being rewritten, Sometimes new information is released by govermental departments but sometimes somebody tries to change history just to either fit their theories or to deliberately damage some ones reputation.
Not all historians are honest people, some are misguided, some are devoted to finding the truth. The lesson here is to do your own research with an OPEN mind.

What I find difficult to believe is why it has taken so long for this piece of history to be questioned. I have no problem with the claim that some bombers were lost because I think it is impossible in wartime for anyone to keep a clean sheet. Maybe it was politically better for the zero losses to be claimed after the war to make a statement about the rights of the minority to equality in the post war period. Maybe.

Whatever the facts these airmen served their country and some gave their lives. They have a right to our respect.

[Alph]

Hi Jim and Everyone,
Seems as though history portrays only those seemingly worthy and have escaped Bios. These boys were asked to serve a government that not only gave them few rights,but segregated them as well! I'm surprised there wasn't some sort of hoopla over who got these ertremely capable pilots to do these missions they flew. The credit for their Valor rests ONLY on their shoulders. I want a model of this squadron in my collection for sure!
Alph. The adendem to this rant is posted over on nice things to talk about Alph