Either way, there’s is a great story that needs to be told, properly. There aren’t enough movies, films, and discussions about the contributions of African-Americans to both the first and the second world war. For that matter, there isn’t enough told or said about African-American’s contribution to our military.
Just heard on NPR this morning that one of the airmen past away real recent…not sure who it was cause I was half asleep…but he was 87…We will never forget!!!
Mark
The stories can be found. But films made by Hollywood to highlight one ethnic group or anothers wartime contributions tend to be overdone to the point of preachiness and historical inaccuracy at times. Especially in recent years. The Tuskegee Airmen tale is long overdue to be told as an accurate first class Hollywood movie. Same with the 761st tank Battallion. But how about all the other overlooked groups? Aside from “Go for Broke”, When was a movie made about the 100th Btn/442nd RCT? Or any other Nisei soldiers. “Windtalkers”, great in concept, but badly executed, had so much potential. Adam Beach played a far better role in “Flags Of Our Fathers”. Hispanic American soldiers have been overlooked except for an occasional supporting role here and there (Ricardo Montalban in “Battleground” is probably the most memorable). In the end, they were all Americans who did their part, whose desendants continue to do so to this day. No ethnic group has a monopoly on service, patriotism, heroism, or sacrifice. Some were segregated, some were not, but all played a critical role in helping to win wars.
I attended the Sun-n-Fun this year and there were exactly 3 Mustangs. We went on Friday to avoid the big crowds. It’s possable they only show up for the weekend, but I think you may have witnessed something unusual. There was nothing in the brochures to indicate there would be that many.
At the “Gathering of Mustangs and Legends” in Sept 07, there were 76 or 77 'stangs there, depending on whose final count you use. There were 3 P-51 B/C’s there IIRC. Plenty of D’s are around, but the B/C models are getting pretty scarce.
Jack Roush’s new P-51B “Old Crow” has finished restorations and is now flying, so that should make 4 B/C’s flying. Old Crow, Betty Jane, Ina the Macon Belle, and Princess Elizabeth. Impatient Virgin and Tuskegee Airmen are in restoration status.
Can ya tell I like Mustangs? LOL A couple great sites for P-51 info are www.mustangsmustangs.us and www.gml2007.com (the last one being about the “Gathering” in '07) There is also a lot of Mustang info on www.airshowbuzz.com
The Lucas film should be out in 2009. Its in "pre-production now.
The Tuskegee Airman who passed recently was Chuck “A-Train” Dryden, on June 24th. God keep you, and grant you blue skies A-Train. We’ll always remember.
Hello you all, you all know that doing movies based on ethnic groups is some what hard to do by mini movie makers a lot of emotions come out when you realy dig in to the past to see what each ethnic group went through to serve our military and what happond to a lot of them once thay came home. (Like in the olympic games just before WW2 when jesse owens kicke but in germany and came home to a half loving and was truly hated by some People… I think the move would be better if Steven Spielberg would do it fully do any of your remember schindler’s list. Well you all know that Spielberg and Lucas are friends and have worked on movies before so may be lucas will help from behind. Oh yeah you all do know that the Tuskegee pilots trained in the B-25 as well but did not get to go the orders to go battle the japanese were the would have used ther Mitchell B-25s. But we will have to see the out come to tell if it’s better than the HBO version. As for me I’m glad the story of the Tuskegee Airmen was told by HBO if not for them some of our hitstoy would not be told. Like the all AA Tank Battalion I found out about them on a video game and then went and started looking up groups that would help me found out about all othere ethnic groups and there accomplishments. So after seeing all that infomation I see that there is a lot we are not told in our schools. America history has a lot of sides to it and kids to day are so lucky they need to learn all the different sides good and bad to have a good grasp on there future.
As I to need to get back to work on my Mustang:
I also have also started a Mitchell Bomber trainer that I saw in a photo from … at Tuskegee.
Here’s some links on this subject.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25214452/
http://www.military.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/new-lucas-film-on-famed-tuskegee-airmen
A the full Google link:
Just a bit of Redtail trivia: The Redtails took their name from a condition that plagued fighter pilots on long escort missions having to sit on a parachute pack. A case of the Red Azz…
I am pleased to see that a new movie about these famous pilots is in the works. Lucas will do a good job.
I’m not concerned about the lack of P-51s. As others have said there are a lot of them still flying. The last time I was as Oshkosh there were dozens of them. They flew top cover for several B-17s. As I said in a previous post when the Tuskegee Airmen was mentioned. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the surviving pilots at Oshkosh. It was great to stand with heroes.
WhiteR34,
The tank battalion that you’re referring to was the 761st Tank Battalion. They were those African American Tank Battalion to engage in combat in WW2. They wer part of Patton’s push to take Germany. The famed Red Ball Express, were African American support troops. They’re actually a couple of them that live in my neighborhood. I had the pleasure of meeting them at a Veteran’s Day breakfast a couple of years ago. It was really a great experience to meet htme and hear their stories. It was also cool that they acknowlegded my service and were interested in my experiences as well. It was really awestruck. I also had the pleasure of meeting and having my 8 yr. old son meet a couple Tuskegee Airman from Philadelphia a couple of months ago. I think I was more thrilled than he was. I was almost in tears! Can I say that that hear?! [:I] Sorry, I digressed.
You’re not going to believe this but Kareem Abdul-Jabar cowrote a book about them. Either his father or step-father was a tanker in that unit. I think if you look up 761st Tank Battalion you may be able to find the book. If not, I’ll dig out my copy and provide you with the info if you would like.
P-51B flown by Lee “Buddy” Archer.
OT: White R34…What did you use for the NMF on your mustang?
For the majority of them-- this is true and they are to be respected to be sure. But there were also white drivers on the Express as well. My wife’s uncle drove one and I build a truck for him a while back in honor of his service.
Here are a few Tuskegee builds I have done-- one of each of their fighters–
Native Americans were also involved, and were segregated. My friend Airman Jim’s dad, full blooded Cherokee, survived the Battle of the Bulge but was shell-shocked until he took his life in 1948.
Another much needed subject is the Port Chicago disaster in 1944, and mutiny a month later.
20 miles from my house.
Nice builds Jeeves!
Hello all I’m back[:-,] Ok as I’m not up on aircraft ling-go your going to have to let me in on what (NMF) means sorry. An the info on the (761st Tank Battalion) would be verey helpful. An mini White Movie makers in Hollywood don’t want to point out that part of the war, of what realy go’s on with all ethnic groups that protiapated in whic ever war movie there making, Like in the movie (Battle of the Bulge) The 761st Tank Battalion was in the spear point of the Battle of the Bulge (Not depicted at all)and in the movie Patton the only Black you see is one serving crazy @&& patton[D)][(-D] An I do thing Spike Lee is right that in (I do love Clint eastwood work) “Flags of Our Fathers” I think it was a good movie but on the beach landing there is one of the places he got rong from talking to my family older members about that part of the movie, he was ded rong on it and I know what I’m going to say mini of you will not like this but remember the time. I Quote: [Grand Uncle David From Liberty Mississippi] Our Lt. Told us, all you N*****'* to get to the front of the craft so that the real solders wont have to die first, with a small grin he said that he was rong I’m still here and he’s not. I did not grin with him as I see all the guys good and bad that wer there as heroes. I know that after telling him that at first he was a little mad but he sat there and said your right that a lot of guys the fot there way up that beach head help me and a lot of otheres that needed it and they them selfs said that bad word we all love to hate from time to time. So We as a nation have come a long way and have a way to go yet he said. (MAN) He started to cry wile telling me more on the deed’s of the me that wer there that day. Like the one guy the told a lot him that blacks don’t belong there and and he would not give blood to help any black. Later that day that same guy saved my life by covering my with his body. So I asked did he make it yes he only got hit by some bits shrapnel.(Wile pointing at an old photo) and died here some years ago. he had a photo of himself and that guy at the family bar-BQ. (I thought it was a pic of a good neighbor that’s all), I never thought that guy was that type of heroe till know. So after talking about that for most of the afternoon. We got back on to the subject of movie makers. He said lets hope that we will see how close to the truth this guy gets. But he wanted me tell you all that remember that there are brave movie makers out there that will try to tell the story from there own point of the views of there backers., (Behind ever good Movie Maker there is a lot of money investted). Hay why aren’t there any black movie makers doing any WWII or VN based movies? Spike Lee is just the right movie maker to do a true account of and any part of the war.
Schroll down to see a list of the movie he has made to see what we mean.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Lee
I know that after some read this that some will no-longer look at my work and have good thing to say about it and I realy don’t care. I must stay true to my self and my family and talk from my hart. As for Jeeves models, I think there Magnificent!!! [bow]I hole I can get that good in the long run. My girl told my in her weekly E-Mail from Iraq I may be losing my anonymity and some may not like the take advice from some one that is black or as some of you like to say african american.
“I’m going to keep keeping on”.
White_R34,
The name of the book that I read is: The African-American 761st Tank Battalion in WWII, Patton’s Panthers, written by Charles W. Sasser.
I don’t think the color of our skin is a big deal ( I too am African-American, and an Army vet,) at least when it comes to modelling. But, that’s just my opinion. You keep doing what you do. I’ve admired you work.
My own, but I dont think the color of your skin matters atall when it comes to anything. I grew up in New Orleans in the 50`s and never could understand the whole thin about segragation. Seperate restrooms,drinking fountains, the whole deal. And never in my life did I determan a mans worth on his color . There are heros and a**holes and their color dosent determan either…Harv
NMF = Natural Metal Finish. Did you use Bare-metal Foil or buff a metalizer finish or…?
White, regarding “Flags of our Fathers”, did you read the book? It is primarily the story of just those six men and their experiences before, during and for the survivors, after the battle. It was not an attempt to tell the entire story of Iwo Jima, just theirs. The movie followed the book pretty closely.
“Battle of the Bulge” was a terrible movie. Historicly speaking it bears little resemblence to actual events. Hollywood is long overdue to make a better film about this major battle. If it includes the 761st’s story, so much the better.
I remember during the 90s there was a movie about Black soldiers in Vietnam called, “The Walking Dead”, or something like that. I dont think it did very well. I have read a couple books of Blacks in Vietnam that I think would be great movies if adapted well: “Bloods” a series of personal short stories, and “Soul Patrol” about an all Black LRRP team by one of its’ members. I really dont care who would make movies like this, just keep them truthful to their source.
Personally I will take any useful model building advice from any modeler.
Hans von Hammer Nope! alclad II over gloss black, It’s my first try at using it for a plane with no weathering on it just for show. I do plan to do one more but I’m going to use some othere colors from alclad and chrome to make a better looking or more weathered craft.
stikpusher you have a real good point there.