CALENDAR
NEWS
DONATE
SHOP
CONTACT
Greetings!
Even with last week’s setback, we have had a successful several weeks in Dallas at the new CAF headquarters, reaching out to the Dallas community and making new friends. Original Tuskegee Airmen Charles McGee delighted students from all over the city as they came to our RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to learn direct from the source! This special guest truly left a lasting impression. Read this month’s newsletter for more details and to get a glimpse at where else you can find us in the coming months. Inspiring for higher!
L ai
The CAF Red Tail Squadron logistics team is hard at work ensuring that we meet our obligations for the 2016 season of RISE ABOVE Red Tail. Other CAF units and Mustang operators have stepped up to make their aircraft available for our events if needed. Our team will meet and exceed expectations for our outreach events. We have a full schedule and have a plan in place to ensure that we continue to reach record numbers of people of all ages with the inspirational history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. We will RISE ABOVE!
U
R
An action plan has been created, which is already in motion, and there are no foreseeable roadblocks to a successful outcome. As of publication of this article, the aircraft is up on its wheels in the hangar being prepared for transport at the end of the week to Air Corps Aviation, the WWII aircraft specialists who led the two restorations of our P51C. Their team is standing by and will begin the repair process as soon as the aircraft arrives. We will keep you updated with progress reports in our newsletter, blog and on Facebook.
Ta Red iL M
FEB
As you may have already heard, our P-51C Mustang Tuskegee Airmen suffered an unfortunate incident on Wednesday, February 3. Because of a gear up landing the aircraft is currently grounded. I was the pilot on that flight, and I take full responsibility for what was simply a case of pilot error. Rest assured that our Mustang did not have any sort of critical engine issue, and the damage it has sustained is completely repairable. I am extremely remorseful, and as the Squadron Leader I pledge that I will be at the forefront of ensuring the plane returns to service as quickly as possible.
AR Y 20 6 1
In This Issue • The Leader’s View • Greetings From the Road • Event & Archive Photos • Portraits of Tuskegee Airmen: Luther Smith • In Your Words • Our Mission in Action • Shop with us!
Business News & Info • Our Squadron in the News • Welcome New Supporters • Join us and become a volunteer! • For More Information
Bill Shepard, Squadron Leader
“Our objective is to carry the lessons and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen into every classroom in America!” ~Don Hinz, CAF Red Tail Squadron program founder
GREETINGS FROM THE ROAD! To bring RISE ABOVE Red Tail to your event contact Logistics CoordinatorMarvona Welsh at
[email protected] or (812-240) 2560. Help preserve the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen for generations to come!
Our 2016 outreach season has begun! Even though our P-51C Mustang is currently unavailable for events, we are going to do our best to honor our commitments. The availability of the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit has not been impacted and its schedule remains unchanged. In addition, we have had an outpouring of support from the warbird community, and there may be opportunities to pull in aircraft from other CAF units and Mustang operators if necessary for our events. We will still be making our way across with our important message. As with warbirds, air shows and aviation in general, we can count on the unexpected to happen! Please be assured that with a pilot safely on the ground and an aircraft that’s completely repairable after last week’s incident, the CAF Red Tail Squadron will most certainly RISE ABOVE to continue it’s important mission to honor the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. Keep an eye on our calendar! If there’s a chance that we will be near you, I hope you can come down and say hello. As a supporter, I know the mission of the CAF Red Tail Squadron is important to you, and YOU are a big part of our success. We hope to thank you in person at one of our many stops in 2016! Sincerely,
Marvona Welsh Logistics Coordinator
Photo courtesy Brandon Hicks
PLEASE CHECK OUR SCHEDULE ONLINE FOR UPDATES! DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
Feb 23-28
Tallahassee Open House
Tallahassee, FL
March 2-6
CAF Air Power History Tour
Sarasota, FL
March 11-13
Tico Warbird Airshow
Titusville, FL
March 19-20
Tampa AirFest
MacDill AFB, FL
March 24-27
Open for events in Ft Lauderdale or Orlando Florida
March 28-April 3
MAINTENANCE BREAK
April 5-10
Sun N Fun
Lakeland, FL
April 16-17
Smoky Mountain Air Show
Knoxville, TN
April 20-24
Green McAdoo Museum
Clinton, TN
April 30-May 1
MCAS Cherry Point Air Show
North Carolina
May 4 -8
OPEN
MIDWEST
May 14-15
OPEN
MIDWEST
May 21-22
Lynchburg Regional Airshow
Lynchburg, VA
May 24-30
Tribute to Tuskegee Airmen
Pennsylvania, PA
June 3- 5
WWII Weekend
Reading, PA
June 6-12
MAINTENANCE BREAK
June 18-19
CAF Indianapolis
Mt. Comfort, IN
June 20-26
OPEN
MIDWEST
July 1-4
Grindstone Festival
Berea, OH
July 8-9
Angola Balloons Aloft
Angola, IN
July 14-17
OPEN
MIDWEST
July 20-24
OPEN
MIDWEST
July 25-31
EAA Air Venture
Oskhosh, WI
Aug 1-7
OPEN
MIDWEST to EAST
Aug 13-14
Wings Over Vermont
Burlington, VT
Aug 17-20
Wiscasset Open House
Wiscasset, MA
August 24-28
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Ontario, Canada
August 30-31
Brantford Rotary Charity Museum
Brantford, Ontario
Sept 2-4
OPEN
Sept 10-11
Fort Wayne ANG
Fort Wayne, IN
Sept 13-17
Black History Museum
Springfield, IL
Sept 21-24
CAF Rocky Mountain Wing
Grand Junction, CO
Sept 26-Oct 2
MAINTENANCE BREAK
Oct 8
Holloman AFB Open House & Air Show
Holloman, NM
Oct 14-16
Fort Worth Air Show
Fort Worth, TX
Oct 22-23
Wings Over Houston
Houston, TX
Oct 28-30
CAF WWII Air Expo
Dallas, TX
Nov 5-6
OPEN
Southern States
EVENT PHOTOS: CAF NATIONAL AIR BASE IN DALLAS, TX To see more photos, please visit our Facebook page! Please LIKE and SHARE! #riseaboveredtail #tuskegeeairmen
Bill Shepard and guest with original Tuskegee Airmen MSgt Joseph B. Montgomery of the 99th squadron, SSgt Homer Hogue and Col Charles McGee.
Col Charles McGee on stage with Eugene Richardson and members of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Detroit Chapter.
Ken, a volunteer at the CAF, explains the WWII Rations System to local students.
McKinney Retired Active Texans (McRats) had a great time with Tuskegee Airmen Col Charles McGee at CAF headquarters.
The children loved meeting the Airmen.
Col McGee talks with students around the PT-17 Stearman. Photos courtesy Marvona Welsh & Kevin Hong
PORTRAITS OF A TUSKEGEE AIRMAN: LUTHER SMITH Character. What we do with what we’ve been given. What we do in the face of adversity. What we do when times are good, and bad. In the profile of Capt Luther Smith – original Tuskegee Airman, engineer, patent-holder, community servant and father – we are given a great example of this valuable trait. Smith’s dreams of flight began early in childhood. He held them tight, even when everyone around him and the constructs of society at the time seemed to make that dream an impossible reality. But Smith believed in the power of preparation… to be ready just in case circumstances may change and an opportunity could present itself. As an 11-year-old growing up in Iowa, Smith found $5 in a field used it to buy a ride in an airplane for him and his younger brother. The experience had him hooked on aviation. The tenacious young man would walk five miles everyday to the airport where he made himself useful to anyone that would have him, planning to learn all he could and one day get a seat in the cockpit. The local paper even wrote a story on him. By 1940, he had earned his pilot’s license, becoming one of the first black Americans to do so.
Official military photo of Captain Luther Smith taken in 1947 just before he retired due to medical injuries sustained on his He didn’t stop there. Smith was determined to fly in the military, even final mission on Friday, October 13, 1944. though the U.S. Army Air Corps did not allow African Americans to serve as pilots, regardless of experience and ability. He made sure he was prepared anyhow. When he was a student at the University of Iowa studying engineering, he knew that military pilots needed a minimum two years of college education, so to advance his chances he made sure to check that box. And as fate would have it, the Air Corps created the flight-training program at the Tuskegee Institute, and Smith went on to earn his wings in the program. Unfortunately, the challenges of being a black in a time of severe racial prejudice and discrimination in our country did not evaporate when he became an officer and fighter pilot, volunteering to fight for our country in WWII. In fact, when he was en route to being deployed overseas, he was refused entry to a movie theater – a stark reminder of the tremendous obstacles yet to overcome. Smith’s service with the 332nd Fighter Group included 133 combat missions within eight months, destroying two German aircraft in air and 10 in ground strafing attacks. On his final mission, Smith’s aircraft was heavily damaged and he bailed out over Yugoslavia, where he was taken captive as a POW for seven months. He was badly injured and emaciated by the time Allied forces liberated him, and endured a further two years of recovery stateside. He earned numerous commendations for his service and sacrifice, but his career as a military aviator came to a stark halt, bringing Smith an early retirement and at the doorstep of starting over again. After completing his degree, he went on to become the first African-American aerospace engineer for GE’s Missile and Space Operations, and served the company for the entire 38-year span of his career. He consulted with NASA, developed patents, earned a Master’s degree and helped the Navy create silent submarines. All of this from a man that GE didn’t initially want to even interview – a decorated war hero, well educated, determined – because of the color of his skin. “His professional accomplishments after the war were groundbreaking for our society,” said his daughter Deborah Smith. “My father is unique, but of the Tuskegee Airmen that survived the war, it’s impressive to look at what they’ve achieved in their lives, coming from a relatively small group. It’s a testament to these men and the talent they had that would have otherwise been overlooked.”
It wasn’t until much later in life that Smith spoke publicly about his experiences as a Tuskegee Airmen, and when he did it was captivating. “In the year 2000 my father made one of his first speeches about his service in the war and it was the first time I heard him speak of it in much detail,” recalls his son, Gordon Smith. “The Tuskegee Airmen, like my father, share a common trait of determination and perseverance, and their success underscores these qualities. They are the perfect example of not letting incredible institutional barriers get in the way. It’s the kind of model you would want to provide for any young person. He delivered that message in a very impactful way to the audiences he spoke to.” Smith honorably served on the jury that chose the design for the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. At the groundbreaking ceremony, he spoke about his time serving our country, and earned the praise of then president Bill Clinton, whom he also accompanied to Europe to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. For his service, outstanding career and commitment to his community, Smith received much recognition, including an honorary doctorate from Tuskegee University in 2006. Capt Luther Smith passed away in 2009 at the age of 89. He remains a vivid reminder of the Tuskegee Airmen’s ability to rise above the obstacles set before them to triumph over adversity. He fought the enemy abroad and racism at home. His inspirational life story is one not only of determination, but great success. We salute you sir.
Luther Smith in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang which is positioned on the tarmac at Ramitelli Air Field in Ramitelli, Italy in the summer of 1944. Amazingly included in the photo sitting on the wing is his brother, Sergeant Howard Smith whom was stationed nearby.
Luther Smith in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt after landing from a combat mission in June 1944. This photo is unique in that the 332nd Fighter Group (Luther was in the 302nd) did not fly many missions in the P-47. Of Luther’s 133 combat missions, he flew only 10 in the P-47 which preceded their receiving P-51 Mustangs.
OUR MISSION IN ACTION Along with our mission to educate audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, the CAF Red Tail Squadron was founded on the objective to carry their important lessons into every classroom in America. See how the message of the Tuskegee Airmen has left a strong impression on students from around the country! I am in a class called Interdisciplinary Studies that combines History and English. Every year there is a famous project called History vs. Hollywood, the premise of the project is to pick a movie that has historical significance and compare the history of the movie to the “Hollywood” of the movie. My movie was Red Tails. The first time I ever heard of the Tuskegee Airmen was through the movie Red Tails. After seeing the movie I asked my Grandfather who was a navigator in the B-29 bomber during WWII about the airmen. When hearing this a smile came to his face and he said yes, they were very famous in the U.S. Army Air Core (USAAC) at the time. While performing my research I realized that the Tuskegee Airmen were the greatest fighter squadron in U.S. history. During their missions of escorting bombing fleets, they lost the least amount of bombers than any other squadron in the USAAC. The Tuskegee airmen received a Distinguished Unit Citation, several silver stars, 150 distinguished flying crosses, fourteen bronze stars, and 744 air medals. While facing discrimination both on and off the ground the Tuskegee Airmen showed the world that African-American men can and will fly with more heart and determination than any other pilots. These men have taught me to persevere through adversity, no matter what situation you are in or what challenges you face. If you keep your eye on your dream it can happen. About 75 years ago these men started flying for their country. My dream has always been to fly and fight for my country. Their memory will remind me that if I ever had a bump in the road toward my dream that it will be extremely easy compared to what they did. If I do end up flying it will not only be to honor these brave men, but to spread the word of their great triumphs. Ryan Miller
The following four submissions are USAF Jr ROTC Cadets whose leader MSgt Thomas Frazier, used the RISE ABOVE Resource kit to teach the cadets about the Tuskegee Airmen.
Our RISE ABOVE Resource Kit is specially designed for teachers and youth leaders to inspire and teach students about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. Available for $110 – over a $280 value! www.redtail.org/product/rise-above-educational-kit
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“We are all not perfect. We are all American. We are all one, and we are all trying to get along in this world” ~ MSgt James Cooper
Photo courtesy Richard VanderMeulen
Make a one-time or recurring donation to help us to ensure the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen is passed on to future generations, so that their strength of character, courage and ability to triumph over adversity may serve as a means to inspire others to RISE ABOVE obstacles in their own lives and achieve their goals! Give online, by calling 888-928-0188, or by mail at:
CAF Red Tail Squadron 971 Hallstrom Drive Red Wing, MN 55066
IN YOUR WORDS
The RISE ABOVE resource kit was inspirational to me. I am a former USAF weapons loader, I have loaded on F-15, F-16 and A-10 aircraft. I was happy to engage the cadets with the stories of the Tuskegee Airmen. The dedication, perseverance and finally the perfection they showed was truly remarkable and all Americans should feel proud of their military accomplishments as Americans. The cadet testimonials are attached while the essay contest papers are being mailed to you. Thank you for this experience. MSgt Frazier, Thomas (ret) FL-824, Air Force JROTC
Hello from Volunteer Central! It won’t be long until the RISE ABOVE Drive Team sets off for Sunny Florida to continue spreading the inspirational message of the Tuskegee Airmen. From Tallahassee to Sarasota, Titusville, Tampa, Miami and finally ending up in Lakeland for SUN ‘n FUN, the swing through Florida will be a great start to the season. Ambassador spots are still open so contact me at
[email protected] if you’re able to help out. CAF Volunteer Coordinator, Ken Mist
Learn more at www.redtail.org/volunteer/
SHOP WITH US! Visit our entire store at www.redtail.org/store Moisture wicking polo shirts for men and women Only $42-44 plus s/h $5 Designed for modern office pros, travelers and urban commuters, our sleek polo fuses the comfort of a knit with the structure of a woven shirt. It wicks moisture, has stretch for ease of movement and an unencumbered fit. Our specialized finishing process improves the softness wash after wash. Available in black, battle grey, navy, white, dress blue or very berry.
Our exclusive CAF Red Tail Squadron Collector Coin Only $10 plus s/h $2.50 A 3” gold plated zinc alloy collector coin created specially for the CAF Red Tail Squadron featuring the Guiding Six Principles on the back. A great keepsake for yourself, trade, or gift for someone special! Front
Back
OUR SQUADRON IN THE NEWS “CAF Red Tail Squadron to Showcase at ASCD Educators Conference” – Warbirds News “Rise Above Traveling Exhibit Making Capital City Stop” – WTXL ABC “2016 Owensboro Air Show Set for October” – WBKR “Canadian Snowbirds coming to air show” – Messenger-Inquirer “African-American History Museum to open March 3” – The State Journal-Register “Traveling World War II exhibit salutes Red Tail Squadron” – Bradenton Herold
We need YOU! If you have attended an event and taken photos of the Mustang or guests visiting the RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit, we would love to share them with others! Please email them to
[email protected], and when used photo credits will be given to you!
ARCHIVE PHOTOS
Courtesy the archives of Maxwell AFB, AL
DID YOU KNOW? 5 February 1939: Triangle Airport opened in Tuskegee, on land owned by John Connor. Stanley O. Kennedy, Sr., whose father leased the field, served as the airfield manager. Kennedy and two other white men, Forrest Shelton and Joe Wright Wilkerson, built the field originally for their personal use. This is the same field that Tuskege Institute later acquired for its part in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, and it was popularly called Kennedy Field, although to Tuskegee Institute, it was airport number 1. Eventually Tuskegee Institute acquired a second airfield, which was called Moton Field.
WELCOME SUPPORTERS! Thank you to the new supporters who have joined us at the sponsor level of $100 or more. Contact us to pledge your support and join the ranks! Accurate Felt & Gasket Mfg. Co., Inc. Carmen Abad-Fitts James Adamson Rodney Alexander Esterlene Anderson Grady Ash William Aubin Mamie Baker Eugene Banks Warrick Barrett Jesse Barrington Barbara Bayless Lorenzo Benet Capt Thomas Bernitt Scott Blakemore Evonne Blakey Katherine Blewett Clarence Brown Dr. William Brown Howard Bueschel Horace Bullock CW04 Larry Bussey Larry Butler Thomas Butz Kermit Cain Michael Cambell Anna Catalanotto William Chandler Barbara Chappell Harold Choitz Barbara Claman Wesley Clark Dr. James Cleveland Sydney Cohen John & Jean Coleman Lillian Coleman Datin Combs Norman Corbett Thomas Cornforth Jacqueline Covington Henry Crommelin Ermin Crownley Michael Cunningham Jeffrey Curry Frances Davis John Davis Sam Davis Col Lawrence Dawson Andrew Dean Yvonne Dekok Doris Derby James Diggs
Thomas Drehs Col John Duncan USAF Ret. Kenneth Dunipace Robert & Gwynne Edmund Michael Edwards Mark Erickson Takashi Eto Col James Evans David Everson P. Fanning Lt Col D. Patrick Farley Adolphus Favors Lindsay Fischer Michael Fitzgibbons Dr. Nancy Flowers Darrell Foell Rowland Foster Raymond Fudge Henry Funderburk Thurston Gaines John Gale Carla Gary Mary George Capt David Georgius Rev. Frank Gibson Margaret Gordon Edward Greer Paul Guercio Dr. Bernard Hale Richard Hall Bentley Hamilton Willie D. Harper Earnest Harris Helen Harris Thomas Hawk Brockton Hefflin Clyde Henderson Gene Hendrix David Hoats Alika Hope Jonathan Howell Alan Hoving Harlan Howard John Howard William Hoyt Alfred Hurd Anthony Iani Gerald Indorf Dirk Jochems Mark Johnson John Jones Nelson Jones Cedric Joubert
Dr. William Kate Maurice Kaufman Col C. Kengla Oliver Kennedy Sam Kennedy Richard Klaber David Knutson Joseph Koval Col Jack Krout Royal Lachasse John Lahl Wallace Last Dr. Grant Latimore Donald Leavenworth Mr. & Mrs. John Leseth Gregory Lincoln Tarky Lombardi Herman Long James Lundberg Ron Lynch Luther Manus Bette Matava Mark Mc Cann Alonzo McCaulley Ira McCloud David McDaniel John McIver Carlyle Melleby Joseph Menard Col Ross Mickey Mary Morello Phoebe Morris Jeff Muhlenkamp Millard Murphy Herman Nelson Robert Newton Hurman Nicholson Patricia Norton Ada Nyabongo Col P. O’Croinin Maj Lee Offen Dolores Oppenheim Shih Pai Robert Pasquill Michael Pearson Camille Petty Harry Phillips Jennifer Pirrie Ronald Price Dean Psiropoulos Gene Rahll Jeffrey Ramsey Obie Reid
Linda Reynolds Norman Reynolds Chuck Rikli John Riordan Glen Robertson Mr. & Mrs. Cambric Robinson Robert Ronus Charles Ross Stanley Ross Gary Rupnik Angelle Ruppert Craig Salley Charles Saunders Robert Savage Michael Schoenfield Joan Schraml Scott Schwindaman John Seay Donald Sefton Irwin Selden Theodore Seman Sylvia Shih Charles Simms Scott Smedira Douglas Smith Wesley Smith Scott Stacey Dr. John Stevenson Col Michael Stevenson Stephen Sumandra Gary Thompson Thomas Tersillo John Tompkins John Tubbs Capt Jan Van Tol VFW 7464 Larry Wallman A.J. Watson Augustus Washington Isaac Washington Anthony Waters Paul & Bonnie Weiss Franklin White Jay Wiemuth Mary Williams Ed Woods Dell Wright In Yo Mary Ellen Yoder Floyd Young James Zehnder
FOR MORE INFORMATION Please mail correspondence or donations to our home office at: CAF Red Tail Squadron 971 Hallstrom Drive Red Wing, MN 55066
Copyright © Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron™
R
TaiL MaiL ed
N
EW
S L ETT E R
To bring RISE ABOVE to your event, contact: Marvona Welsh Logistics Coordinator
[email protected] 812-240-2560 General Inquires: LaVone Kay Marketing Director
[email protected] 888.928.0188
Bill Shepard Squadron Leader
[email protected] Darcy Castro PR & Communications
[email protected] Ken Mist Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected]
Receive Updates From us in Your Inbox Reading this newsletter online? Make sure you get all the latest news direct to your inbox - send a request to
[email protected] to sign up today! Check out our blog for an in-depth look at CAF Red Tail Squadron events, news and special interest stories. www.redtail.org/blog Follow us on Facebook! Find our latest updates, pictures and news - be sure to LIKE and SHARE our page to help us spread the word! www.facebook.com/cafredtailsquadron
Watch this video to see how school children have been empowered by learning about these fine American heroes, and the enthusiasm educators have for our educational outreach efforts. www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7h4VmIPGBM
Get our FREE iBook! On your Apple iOS or OS X device, use your iBooks app, hit Bookstore and type in “Tuskegee Airmen” to download your free copy of this interactive and fun educational book for all ages! You must have an iPad or an Apple computer with a Maverick operating system. https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/aim-high-aircraft-tuskegee/
The CAF Red Tail Squadron and its outreach programs are not affiliated with Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. All funds donated to the CAF Red Tail Squadron are used by the organization for education outreach programs to further their mission to educate audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. Endorsement and support of the organization and its efforts by original Tuskegee Airmen, their family members or members of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. should not be considered an endorsement by Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
