View Full Version : Obama honours the Tuskegee Airmen
The Times: Barack Obama honours the Tuskegee Airmen who flew the flag for racial equality (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5542557.ece)
Spann Watson is going to his second presidential inauguration — but this time he will actually touch the ground. The 92-year-old retired lieutenant-colonel from Long Island, New York, was one of the legendary black Second World War pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
The all-black unit of the US Air Force took part in the fly-past at the inauguration of President Truman in the still-segregated Washington in 1949. Mr Watson was one of a dozen black pilots who flew down Pennsylvania Avenue after the swearing-in, and past the parade stand. Then they kept on flying all the way back to their base in Ohio.
Tomorrow Mr Watson and many of the other 250 to 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen, now all in their eighties and nineties, will receive a heroes’ welcome at the inauguration of America’s first black president.
Barack Obama has reserved prime seats for them on the Capitol lawn to honour their role in breaking down racial barriers in the United States decades before the civil rights era. “My career in public service was made possible by the path heroes like the Tuskegee Airmen trailblazed,” Mr Obama once said..............
Jackonicko
19th Jan 2009, 07:19
I interviewed a number of former 'Tuskegee Airmen' when researching an article, and found them to be a charming and incredibly impressive bunch. The 332nd claimed to have never lost a bomber they were escorting, and the red-tails won the respect of other Fighter Groups in the 15th Air Force, in the Bomber Groups, and among the Luftwaffe.
I've not kept in touch, but I hope that Lee Archer, Clarence White, Roscoe Brown and the others enjoy their day.
MightyGem
23rd Jan 2009, 09:12
Yes, I caught a quick glimpse of an old guy in a Tuskegee cap in the crowd, and wondered what the connection was.
Dengue_Dude
23rd Jan 2009, 12:14
However he turns out (and I wish him well), this is a nice thing to do.
I bet the shot-up B17/24s were happy as hell to have a couple of P51s off the wingtip - whoever was driving them.
Well done Mr President.
Editid four spelin
Squirrel 41
23rd Jan 2009, 17:58
Excellent - another quality move by a very impressive man. Bonne chance it will continue!
S41
US Herk
24th Jan 2009, 04:09
Bush honoured them with the Congressional Gold Medal in '07 - highest civilian honour able to be bestowed by a President.
Tuskegee Airmen Finally Get Their Due, Legendary Black Aviators Receive Congressional Gold Medal For WWII Heroism - CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/29/national/main2624511.shtml)
FOXNews.com - Tuskegee Airmen Honored With Congressional Gold Medal - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,262303,00.html)
They've received quite a bit of recognition over here in the past decade...overdue, perhaps, but Obama is treading no new water.
Dengue_Dude
24th Jan 2009, 20:11
Not much that Dubya did has much credibility over this side of the pond.
I suspect that Obama actually meant it sincerely - as well as being a good PR move, he is a politician after all.
Good luck to him, he can't do much worse.
Ronald Reagan
25th Jan 2009, 18:08
Atleast President Bush flew F-102s with the ANG. Did any of our political leaders in the UK serve in the forces? **** Brown, Blair, Cameron, Clegg?
If McCain had won he would atleast know what its like!
I do wish Obama well but he is just another suit with very little life experience!
Vortex what...ouch!
25th Jan 2009, 19:17
Not much that Dubya did has much credibility over this side of the pond.
I suspect that Obama actually meant it sincerely - as well as being a good PR move, he is a politician after all.
Good luck to him, he can't do much worse.
You is clever isn't you. :*
Try reading his book, and you'll find a few more 'life experiences' than many politicians (on either side of the pond).
racedo
25th Jan 2009, 21:04
Whether or not Bush II had credibility is irrelevant, what is relevant is that he honored these men and it was long before Obama was campaigning for election 2008.
Claiming that as Obama honoured them now its more sincere is :mad:.
Whitewashing of history does nobody any favours.
Double Zero
29th Jan 2009, 20:21
I agree completely that the Tuskagee airmmen get all the praise possible ( has anyone seen the film 'Hart's War ' ? while fiction, it portrays what they had to deal with I suspect all too realistically ).
What I do hope is that Obama gets on with running his country, I'm a little perturbed by what looks like a pro-black crusade, black bodyguards everywhere, " I wouldn't have been here today " speeches etc; fair enough, but we've already got the point.
Dan Gerous
30th Jan 2009, 09:41
Listening to Steve Wright on Radio 2 earlier this week, he was interviewing some black R&B singer, who said he had a part in a soon to start filming, film called "Red Tails", which was about the Tuskagee Airmen. Lets hope it is better than the last film made about these guys.
Arclite01
30th Jan 2009, 10:02
ORAC
I enjoyed 'The Tuskegee Airmen' - thought it was well done. I smidge Hollywood but hey.........
What didn't you like ??
Arc
Arclite01,
Hey, don't drag me into this, ask Dan Gerous, I didn't say anything. :ouch:
off centre
30th Jan 2009, 13:47
Of the many Inauguration Balls held in Washington, D.C, one was the Heroes one or the like.
All the living U.S. Medal of Honour winners were present. A once in a lifetime gathering of 98 genuine heroes.
No trace of the Messiah there.
Of course, Beyonce and crowd weren't appearing there either, so perhaps it is no surprise.
Please, the man is a politician, no better, hopefully no worse.
Dengue_Dude
30th Jan 2009, 15:17
Sorry chaps . . . did I touch a nerve?
As a generality, if a politician's lips are moving, he's lying and this is trans-nationality.
Actually, I should have stayed on the point, and that was to praise some very committed and brave airmen.