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D.C.-Area Tuskegee Airmen Share Story Of Determination, Perseverance And Inspiration

First Posted: 11/12/11 11:37 AM ET Updated: 11/12/11 11:37 AM ET

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Tuskegee
Col. Charles McGee (USAF-Retired) stands in front of a painting of himself in his Bethesda, Md. home. The picture shows the progression of airplanes he flew over a 30-year career as a military pilot starting with the P-51 (top), the F-80 and the F-4.

Patch:

Charles McGee had never been in an airplane prior to arriving at Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, in 1942.

After earning his pilot wings nine months later in June of 1943, McGee, a retired United States Air Force colonel, became one of the most decorated military pilots in the country. McGee, 91, was awarded the Flying Cross three times and was the recipient of 25 Air Medals flying missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Through his 6300 hours of flying - 1,151 of those in combat - McGee advanced from propeller powered airplanes like the P-51 Mustang to the jet-powered F-4.

Read the whole story: Patch

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Charles McGee had never been in an airplane prior to arriving at Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, in 1942. After earning his pilot wings nine months later in June of 1943, McGee, a reti...
Charles McGee had never been in an airplane prior to arriving at Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, in 1942. After earning his pilot wings nine months later in June of 1943, McGee, a reti...
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smi2476975
14 Fans
12:01 PM on 11/14/2011
The EAA is having a gathering of all remaining Tuskekee airmen next year at EAA Airventure 2012 in Oshkosh Wis. ive met Col. McGee on several occasions in oshkosh, and his recolections were awe inspiring!! the things they were subjected to during the war........... segregation, ridicule, and being told time and again they werent good enuf to be pilots, just pushed thier belief in themselves to rise above the discrimination, and be one of the MOST decorated combat fighter units in WWII. their bravery in combat made sure that the bombers got home safe......
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traceymarie
Independent to Dem in 2007
3572 Fans
02:49 PM on 11/12/2011
These men should be HONORED as no other soldiers have been. They were vital to our win yet they were treated as animals by the military and the medical field. Used as human guinea pigs and allowed to die horribly so the military could observe the progression of Syphyliss. To infect men who fought for our country and refuse to give them the medicine they needed to survive is a truley horrendous time in our history.
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dwill123
flexing the "golden pipes" on the day's issues
531 Fans
01:59 PM on 11/13/2011
I believe that you have confused the Tuskegee Airmen with the "unknowing" participants of the Tuskegee Experiment. To my knowledge none of the Tuskegee Airmen were subjected to the program where life saving penicillin was with held from syphilis infected African American men in Tuskegee, Alabama. In fact I believe that as a requirement for induction into the armed services at that time all entrants had to to be VD free.
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traceymarie
Independent to Dem in 2007
3572 Fans
02:12 PM on 11/13/2011
You are wrong, the airmen WERE used as subjects
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