Driving through the sunny Alabama countryside with my windows down and sunroof open, I was enjoying the breeze and the sights of a rural landscape. Eventually, the country roads led me to an airport, like they always do. This airport, Moton Field Municipal Airport, was rich in history.
Many who pass by this general aviation airport may think it served as just the local airport, but then two large World War II style hangars come in to view. As you get closer to these buildings you can make out a series of other military buildings and barracks near them. After a few moments of walking around on the ramp, you can feel that some important event had taken place there.
The hangars, ramp, and barracks are now part of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. The areas I was standing on were the exact spots where the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators, earned their wings. Prior to 1940, African Americans were not allowed to become military pilots. Those brave few who dared to dream and signed up for the Tuskegee program faced many barriers before they could earn their wings. Moton Field was the only primary flight facility for African American pilot candidates in the U.S. Army Air Corps and later Army Air Forces during World War II. It was named for Robert Russa Moton, the second president of Tuskegee Institute. The field was built in 1940 with funding allocated by the Julius Rosenwald Fund. It was agreed that primary flight training would be carried out there on contract for the U.S. government.
One of the key players in the allocation of the money was first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a trustee for the Rosenwald Fund and would show up from time to time to inspect the progress of the field, as well as the program.
In March of 1941, the first lady visited Moton Field and Tuskegee Army Airfield and demanded to go for an airplane ride with one of the airmen based there. C. Alfred “Chief” Anderson was her pilot; he was Tuskegee’s first flight instructor. Under Roosevelt’s orders, Anderson took her up in a J-3 Cub. By the time they landed, the media had learned of the flight and was on hand to take photos of the historic event. Roosevelt insisted that her flight be photographed and the photos developed immediately so that she could take the pictures back to Washington, D.C., to show her husband.
All of the first lady’s actions were in an effort to get President Franklin Roosevelt to activate the squadron. A few weeks later, the group of airmen at Tuskegee was activated into the military and, just short of two months later, was redesignated the 99th Fighter Squadron. Primary training continued at Moton Field with advanced training taking place just a few miles away at Tuskegee Army Airfield.
While we talk in large part of the pilots, there were also ground and support crews. Much of the maintenance was performed by African American women. In June of 1943 the 99th Fighter Squadron deployed for combat in North Africa. They eventually joined the 15th Air Force as the 332nd Fighter Group as bomber escort in Italy commanded by Col. Benjamin O. Davis.
At the historic site, there are two hangars to tour. Inside of Hangar One are two vintage aircraft on display: a PT-17 Stearman and a Piper J-3 Cub, which were two of the most significant types flown at this field. The next hangar tells the story of the experience that these brave men and women went through. There are personal effects, as well as a full-scale mockup of a P-51 Mustang sporting the red tail that gave the Tuskegee Airmen the nickname Red Tail Squadron.
After viewing the historic airfield, I was guided on a short drive to the fenced off remains of what was Tuskegee Army Airfield. It is now private property, but the remains of the base are still very visible.
Anyone interested in this part of history owes themselves a trip there. I cannot begin to describe the feeling one gets walking in the footsteps of such amazing people.