Chapter 15: World War II "Tuskegee Airmen"

Introduction In this chapter, you learned that more than 15 million men and women served in the United States armed forces during World War II. Counted in that number were the members of the United States military's first African American flying squadron. Trained at Tuskegee, Alabama, this highly respected group of pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, and instructors are known collectively as the "Tuskegee Airmen." Their great success in combat and their courage and leadership in the face of racial discrimination collectively supported the argument for full integration of the United States military. The airfield where they trained is now a National Historic Site. Log on to the park's Web site to learn more about the members of the Tuskegee Airmen. Destination Title: Legends of Tuskegee Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window. Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for tips. Directions Start at the Legends of Tuskegee Web site. Click on the image to enter the exhibit. Select the "Tuskegee Airmen" topic by clicking on the title. Browse through the site, taking notes as you go. After you have read through the information, answer the following questions. 1. What was the Tuskegee Experiment, and why was it initiated? 2. Describe the rigorous training that students completed in order to become airmen. 3. How did the Tuskegee Experiment make the point for racial integration of the U.S. military? 4. Profile one of the Tuskegee pilots featured in the site. 5. On a separate sheet of paper, write an editorial that a journalist from 1945 might have written arguing for integration of the United States military. Be sure to use facts from the Web site to support your opinions.