The Tuskegee airmen film review
In 1941, in the United States Air Corps Tuskegee Base, Alabama, an African American group of men became the first colored American fighter pilots. These young men faced extreme prejudice during a war against racism. The Tuskegee Airmen depicts the emotional, physical, and mental obstacles that the US Air Force 332nd Fighter Group had to overcome in order to gain respect from their peers.
Tuskegee is the first American Air Force base to train and integrate African American Pilots. The major, who opposed integration, was the one in charge of the Tuskegee Air Base. Black recruits encountered hostility and intimidation during all drills and training exercises. The major’s ill-treatment of colored troops and his surly attitude led to many deserters. Some men even died during training. The tough conditions strengthened the resolve of those who remained, and the 332nd Fighting Group was formed. Eleanor Roosevelt urged the group to be sent out to Africa after they had been practicing in the US for months.
False news reports caused the group to be close to disbanding, despite its excellent performance in ground target missions. The testimony from their commanding commander led to the men of the House Armed Services Committee finally being assigned to combat operations. The pilots were sent on their first flight to protect a flying fortress, but it did not arrive at the rendezvous. Rather than returning to the base, they saved a second flying fortress. The black pilots who saved the flying fortress did not express gratitude but were angry that they were the ones to save it. When the Tuskegee Airmen were killed in combat they realized how similar the black and white pilots really were. When the 332nd Airborne Division was not sent to Berlin, the same racist pilots requested that they be present. Tuskegee Airmen who fought for the country they loved while the country they lived in fought them finally got justice and respect.
Tuskegee’s Airmen fought against racism during the time of “separate yet equal”, a law that denied the Tuskegees the full rights as citizens. The American government acted hypocritically, pretending to be anti Nazis while carrying out watered down forms of oppression inside their country. They thought that African American pilots were an experiment at Tuskegee and almost abandoned the program due to the “scientific study” that stated African Americans couldn’t fly an aircraft correctly. When African American combat pilots were allowed to prove themselves, the sentiment changed. Daniel L. Haulman is a researcher at the Air Force Historical Research Agency. In his report, he states that the white and black pilots of the 332nd were equally equal. These included the 463d, 483, and 332d Fighter Groups. The Tuskegee airmen were only two out of six bombardment groups that received this honor, or a third. Only one of five fighters groups also earned this distinction.
The hostile atmosphere in which they fought prevented them from finishing their training. It also barred them to run combat missions. And it made them the target of constant racist comments. This all combined to make soldiers frustrated and determined. Their bravery and determination made the 332nd Fighter Group a formidable unit. Tuskegee’s Airmen did not let anything discourage them. They were strengthened by everything that was done to dissuade them.
The Tuskegee Airmen was a film that illustrated historical prejudices we had learned in class. It showed how racism permeated everyday American life during World War II. And it highlighted an important historical moment, when blacks were finally integrated in the Air Corps. The film was also a window into the political scene of that time and revealed how racism had entered the political sphere. Eleanor Roosevelt was able to save the Tuskegee Airmen Experiment despite racist opposition. In the movie, the film captures the unique community spirit that black soldiers had with each other. All black men who were part of the 332nd fighter group could relate stories about discrimination, regardless of their geographic origins. In order to cope with the pain caused by hate crimes, the Tuskegee airmen made bitter jokes. They also used this experience as motivation to break down racial barriers. It is a true victory that the Tuskegee Airmen are now considered great American heroes.
