HR0784 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0784 LRB097 20241 GRL 65694 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen is the popular name of a group of African-American pilots who fought in World War II under the 332nd Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps; the Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military airmen; and

WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces; during World War II, African-Americans in many U.S. states were still subject to racist Jim Crow laws; the American military was no exception, as it too was racially segregated, along with much of the federal government; the Tuskegee Airmen were subject to racial discrimination, both within and outside the Army; despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction; each of the men possessed a strong personal desire to serve the United States to the best of his ability; and

WHEREAS, By the spring of 1944, the all-black 332nd Fighter Group had been sent overseas with the 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons; these squadrons were moved to mainland Italy, where the 99th Fighter Squadron, assigned to the group on May 1, 1944, joined them on June 6, at Rarnitelli Airfield, near Termoli, on the Adriatic coast; from Rarnitelli, the 332nd Fighter Group escorted the Fifteenth Air Force to heavy strategic bombing raids into Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Germany; flying escort for heavy bombers, the 332nd earned an impressive combat record; the Allies called these airmen "Red Tails" or "Red-Tail Angels" because of the distinctive crimson paint predominately applied on the tail section of the unit's aircraft; these assignments marked the first aerial combat missions ever carried out by African-American pilots; and

WHEREAS, Of the 996 total pilots trained in Tuskegee from 1941 to 1946, approximately 445 were deployed overseas and 150 airmen lost their lives in accidents or combat; the blood cost included 66 pilots killed in action or accidents and 32 taken into captivity as prisoners of war; the Tuskegee Airmen were credited by higher commands with the following accomplishments:

15,533 combat sorties and 1,578 missions;

112 German aircraft destroyed in the air and another 150 on the ground;

950 railcars, trucks, and other motor vehicles destroyed;

One destroyer sunk by P-47 machine gun fire;

A nearly perfect record of not losing U.S. bombers; and

WHEREAS, Awards and decorations awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen for valor and performance included:

3 Distinguished Unit Citations (99th Pursuit Squadron: May 30-June 11, 1943 for the capture of Pantelleria, Italy; 99th Fighter Squadron: May 12-14, 1944 for successful air strikes against Monte Cassino, Italy; and 332nd Fighter Group: March 24, 1945 for the longest bomber escort mission of World War II);

At least one Silver Star;

An estimated 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses;

14 Bronze Stars;

744 Air Medals;

8 Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, After the end of World War II, black airmen returned to the United States and once again faced racism and hatred, despite their outstanding service record; and

WHEREAS, These brave men deserve to be recognized by the State of Illinois for their service to their country during wartime; and

WHEREAS, The City of Rockford will honor the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Montford Point Marines during a celebration on February 24-26, 2012; the celebration will include a VIP screening of the film "Red Tails" on February 24, a presentation about the Tuskegee Airmen on February 25, and presentation about the Montford Point Marines on February 26; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the Tuskegee Airman for their bravery and patriotism and thank them for the services they have rendered to our nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the City of Rockford and the Chicago "DODO" Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated.