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*Photo courtesy of Tuskegee University

The George Lucas film ‘Red Tails’ portrays the true-life story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first black US Air Corps unit of WWII. Lucas himself footed much of the $100,000,000 bill to finance production,  after many Hollywood studios turned the film down. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard, ‘Red Tails’ premiered on January 10, 2012 in New York City, with several surviving Airmen in attendance.

While Lucas’ passion for Sci-Fi shows in the trailers through the exciting flight scenes and maneuvers, fans will have to wait for the release Friday to see if he got the story right. In this case, truth may be stranger, more inspiring, and more patriotic than fiction…

The Airmen’s Story:

After having been denied for anything other than basic infantry in WWI, many black military members advocated for advancement and training in the Air Force Units. In 1939, Congress passed a measure to ensure funding for aviation training. Although the War Department designated a Civilian Pilot Training Program, in 1941, Congress mandated that the Army Air Corps create an all-black combat unit. The historically black Tuskegee Institute, having participated in the initial civilian training program, served as a critical launching point for many potential recruits. In spite of the exceedingly high standards, and exclusionary measures, a wealth of qualified candidates applied.

The Tuskegee program officially began in June 1941. Just three months earlier, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the newly-minted program and took a passenger flight with the chief civilian instructor. Impressed as she was, Roosevelt arranged a loan to purchase the land for the air base, and the Tuskegee program got its wings.

The intrepid Tuskegee Airmen became known as ‘Red Tails’ for the color painted on the tail fins of the North American P-51 Mustang fighter planes flown during combat. During WWII, The Red Tails escorted hundreds of bomber planes on dangerous missions, and were in high demand with one of the lowest losses to enemy fire of any unit. They were also responsible for shooting down over 100 enemy planes. Several Airmen even survived capture and imprisonment at enemy hands. In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were presented with the Congressional Gold Medal of honor, by President George W. Bush.

The achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen have gone down in history, and up on the silver screen as well. Their legacy carries with it the name of that storied institution that fought and persevered for equal access to quality education and opportunity.  If you’re looking for career advancement or new opportunities, why not consider improving your own training and education?

Are you a military service member, or veteran, and wondering what your education benefits might be? Browse our military friendly schools, and let your personal and professional goals take flight!